Senator Raja Muhammad Zafrul Haq filed a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the ECP, the chief election commissioner and Federation of Pakistan respondents through secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
As the PML-N filed the petition in the apex court, Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry fixed its hearing for today (Wednesday) before a three-member bench, which he himself is heading.
Other members of the bench are Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed.In his petition, Raja Zafrul Haq stated that the ECP had announced the schedule of presidential election for August 6.
He said the federal government had requested the ECP and CEC to reschedule the presidential election from August 6 to July 30 but the ECP had rejected it.The petitioner maintained that the last 10 days of Ramazan are the days of extensive spiritual and religious activity/worship and a number of the legislators may either be in Aitekaf or proceed for Umrah to Saudi Arabia during the announced seclude for the presidential election.
The PML-N senator contended that August 6 shall fall on one of the last three days of Ramazan, probably on 27th of the Islamic month. It would be to close to Eidul Fitr and many parliamentarians may like to proceed to their hometowns by then.
“If the presidential elections are held on August 6 (27th of the Ramazan), the fundamental rights of parliamentarians shall be infringed as they will not be able to participate in the presidential elections in view of their engagements towards spiritual and religious plans in the last 10 days of the Holy month of Ramazan,” Raja submitted.
The petitioner said that there was no constitutional and legal embargo if the presidential election is held on July 30 instead of August 6. He prayed to the apex court to direct the ECP to change its schedule of the presidential election in the interest of justice.
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