LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf filed plea in Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking direction for Punjab Governor to immediately announce election date for Punjab Assembly in order to ensure that polls are held within 90 days of its dissolution. PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar filed petition through barrister Ali Zafar contending that Governor of Punjab has been impleaded as respondent since Article 105(3) of Constitution requires him to appoint an election date to provincial assembly not later than 90 days from date of dissolution but he has failed to discharge that constitutional duty. Barrister Zafar implored in petition that on January 12, 2023, then Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi advised Governor to dissolve assembly in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 112 of Constitution. On January 14, 2023, pursuant to advice of Elahi in accordance with terms of Article 112(1) of Constitution, assembly stood dissolved.

He contended that subsequently, Speaker of Punjab Assembly, through letter on January 20, 2023, requested respondent to fulfil his constitutional duty and immediately appoint date not later than 90 days from date of dissolution for general election of Assembly as required by Article 105 (3)(1)(a) read with Article 224 of Constitution. He stated that PTI Punjab’s parliamentary leader Sardar Usman Khan Buzdar conveyed concerns of not only PTI but of people of Punjab and also requested Governor to appoint date, in accordance with 90-day limit for holding elections. Further, petition noted that Election Commission of Pakistan is body formed under Article 218 of Constitution and mandated under Article 218(3) to organise and conduct elections and to make necessary arrangements to ensure that election is conducted “Honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 28 2023

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