Row over oath: Swati moves PHC against ECP’s decision

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) senior leader Azam Swati has approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) linking the holding of the Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the administration of the oath to the MPAs elected on the reserved seats.

The PTI leader filed the writ petition through his lawyer, Ali Azeem Afridi.

The ECP and other relevant bodies were made respondents to the petition.

According to the petition, the ECP had recently delivered a verdict barring the holding of the Senate election in the KP until the oath was administered to the MPAs elected to the reserved seats. In the decision, the ECP said that it would postpone the Senate polls in the province if the MPAs elected on the reserved seats of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly recently were not sworn in.

According to the petition, the decision of the ECP was partial and against the Constitution. The petition pointed out that the ECP would be overstepping its authority if it postponed the Senate polls in the province.

The Senate elections were being held in other provinces on the same date, and this move on the part of the ECP would make the electoral exercise controversial, the petitioner contended.

Azam Swati said that he was a candidate in the Senate election, and the decision would deprive him of his constitutional

rights. He requested the court declare null and void the ECP March 26 order and direct the electoral watchdog to ensure the holding of the Senate election in the province on April 2.

The petitioner said that the ECP did not provide the chance for the Senate candidates to present their points of view. He said that it was the responsibility of the ECP to ensure the holding of the Senate election on the due date.