News @ 3 - 2nd June 2018

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday decided to immediately approach the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court verdict that set aside the new nomination forms for the upcoming general elections.

The decision came after an emergency meeting of the commission called to work out future course of action in the backdrop of the LHC verdict about nomination papers.

Speaking to the media, Additional Secretary of ECP Akhtar Nazir made it clear that the 2018 polls will be held on the scheduled date, which is July 25.

He said the commission will immediately file appeals against the high court verdicts about nomination papers and annulment of delimitation of constituencies in a number of districts.

The official said that returning officers will not receive nomination papers in the coming two days.

Earlier, the commission stopped issuance of nomination forms for General Election 2018 after the high court ruling.

The court ruled that nomination form to be submitted by candidates for the upcoming general elections does not include mandatory information and declarations as required from the aspiring lawmakers by the Constitution and law.

The ECP in a press statement said it has called an emergency meeting at its secretariat on Saturday (today) to make decisions about improving Forms A and B in light of the court order.

It also directed returning officers across the country not to receive the nomination forms.