LAHORE, Feb 21 (APP):The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday ordered the registrar office to consolidate all pe
titions regarding the withdrawal of electoral symbols from political parties.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, passed the orders while hearing an intra-court appeal challenging powers to withdraw the electoral symbols from political parties. The court also issued notice to the federal government and Election Commission and sought reply.
Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique represented the pe
titioner before the bench and questioned the commission’s powers to withdraw electoral symbols from political parties, adding that Section 215 of Election Act was in violation of the constitution.
Responding to a query about in
tra-party elections, he submitted that these were crucial, adding that the commission lacked the authority to withdraw election symbols. He further submitted that the commission could levy fines for failure to conduct in
tra-party elections while responding to a bench observation that the Election Act was collectively formulated by all political parties.
However, at this stage, Justice Najafi noted the absence of any political party representation before the court.
Subsequ
ently, the bench issued notices to the respondents and ordered to consolidate all identical pe
titions, besides adjourning further hearing.
