ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday admitted a petition for a regular hearing filed by the federal government against the suspension of the Kissan Relief Package.

Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suspended the implementation of three components of the package worth Rs341 billion. The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ahead of the local government elections.

Attorney General Salman Aslam appeared before the IHC division bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi and Justice Aamir Farooq. After a preliminary hearing, the bench issued a notice to the ECP and adjourned the hearing till October 13.

Mr Butt requested the bench to issue a stay order against the ECP’s decision of suspending the relief package. The bench, however, observed that the matter would be decided at the next hearing.

A written order issued by the bench said, “In our view, at this stage the grant of stay will create complications.

Therefore, we would like to hear this petition on the next date of hearing for which specific directions will be issued to the respondent (ECP) to come and argue to the main petition as well as the civil miscellaneous petition (regarding stay order).”

The petition stated that the aim of the package was not to influence voters in the elections. It claimed that the implementation of the Kissan Package only served an executive function of the federal government.

The petition explained that the package was to be implemented countrywide, including KP and Balochistan, where local elections had already been held.

It said the package was announced after consultations with farming communities and provincial governments. It added that the relief package did not belong to a single person or political party.

The petition said the ECP cannot prevent the federal government from fulfilling its legal and constitutional responsibilitiesThe petitioner requested the court to suspend the impugned orders of the ECP.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2015

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