Plea against ECP powers referred to LHC chief justice.

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) judge on Monday referred a petition, challenging the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to initiate contempt of court proceedings, to the LHC chief justice with a request to form a larger bench for its hearing. The court observed that the petitioner had raised important law points which needed consideration. Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh heard the petition filed by one Mian Shabbir Ismail challenging Section 10 of the Election Act 2017.

The petitioner had submitted that the ECP was neither a court nor could it exercise judicial powers, but it had been given powers to initiate contempt proceedings under section 10 of the Election Act 2017. He contended that as per...