ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will issue de-notification of Railway Minister Khawja Saad Rafique as member National Assembly in wake of the tribunal's decision that asked for re-election in NA-126.
According to ECP officials, the commission will go by the constitution to dismember any member of the provincial assembly, National Assembly or Senate if a tribunal or an appellate authority asks for by-polls in his/her constituency.
A Election Tribunal on Monday ordered re-election in Lahore's NA-125 and PP-155 constituencies thus de-seating two members of ruling PML-N in what seems to be a morale boost for Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) that has been trumpeting rigging in general election 2013.
Though Rafique and his party indicated Monday that the decision would be challenged in Supreme Court, ECP officials told The Nation that the commission was not concerned about the tribunal's decision to be challenged by the MNA/MPA and would instead go by constitution and would issue de-notification of the two lawmakers.However, the official said that in case the lawmakers bring a stay order from the apex court and pleads to be still members of the two houses, the ECP may not issue de-seating of the lawmakers. "It depends on the apex court whether it grants stay order or accepts the petitions of the lawmakers," a senior official in ECP said. To a question what is the difference between rigging and irregularity in election, the official said that any action/step that is deemed to violate codes of election are questionable that can lead to declare the polls as invalid or ask for re-election in a certain constituency.