LAHORE, Pakistan: In response to a plea filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Lahore High Court (LHC) has allowed heads of all political parties and members of the Parliament to take part in election campaigns for upcoming by-polls.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notification that barred the parliamentarians from taking part in the election campaigns.
But a petition was filed in the LHC by the PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqui against the ECP’s order, contending that barring the party chief from election campaign does not come under the jurisdiction of the ECP.
In its ruling announced on Wednesday, the LHC suspended the notification of the ECP and accorded permission to the party heads of all political parties and members of parliament to participate in election campaigns.
The LHC also ordered the government not to announce or commence any development project in any constituency by-polls are going to take place.
The by-elections in Lahore’s NA-122, PP-147 and Lodhran’s NA-154 will be held on October 11.
I will campaign in NA 122. LHC has overruled ECP’s undemocratic elec rule specifically made to keep me out of campaigning in bye- elections
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 23, 2015