Verdict reserved on Sh Rasheed’s plea against poll postponement in NA-60

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Rawalpindi following sentence of life imprisonment of PML-N candidate Hanif Abbasi
of the LHC and the Supreme Court.Addressing a press conference here at the SC premises, Sh Rasheed said postponement of election was
unconstitutional and illegal as ECP did not postpone the election in Lahore and Manshera after the disqualification of Maryam Nawaz and Capt
election in this constituency of Rawalpindi.The Election Commission said that while preparations for the general elections were in their
final stages and ballot papers for the constituency were already printed with Hanif Abbasi's election symbol on them, the ECP is bound to
provide a level playing field to all candidates
It said the election in NA-60 is postponed and will be conducted after the scheduled general elections, along with other postponed
elections.Hanif Abbasi was contesting the election mainly against the Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed from NA-60
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not have a covering candidate in the constituency
when Hanif Abbasi, a potential candidate from NA-60 has been disqualified, which has resulted into a heated debate in the media and
political circles rendering the atmosphere as full and negativelycharged and; whereas the serious criticism is afloat qua the provision of
circumstances is bound to provide a level playing field to the contestants under the Constitution and the law, particularly the Section 4 of
the Elections Act, 2017 read with Article 218(3) of the Constitution and the powers of the Election Commission defined by the August Supreme
election in case of death of a candidate
also delayed in PS-87 Malir, following death of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan candidate Sharif Ahmed Khan in a road accident, PK-78 Peshawar
after death of Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Haroon Bilour in a suicide attack and NA-103 and PP-103 constituencies of Peshawar due
to death of independent candidate Mirza Mughal.Elections were also delayed in PB-35 Mastung after a terrorist attack, which claimed at least
death of Ahmed Khan, a candidate of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party
Some candidates have been also disqualified already but polling will take place as usual; they include Rana Asif Tausif, Sardar Ghulam Abbas
and Rai Hasan Nawaz.