Writ seeks stay on polls schedule

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) seeking stay on the national polls schedule.

Supreme Court lawyer Younus Ali Akhand on Sunday filed the petition with the concerned department of HC.

The petitioner also sought the issuance of a rule to declare the schedule as illegal as it was announced without dissolving the national parliament as well as a stay on the election procedure until the issue is settled.

The chief election commissioner, cabinet secretary, law secretary and four others were made respondents to the rule.

According to section 66 of the constitution, a person will be disqualified for election as or for being, a member, if a person holding any office of profit in the service of the Republic or of a statutory public authority, the petitioner added.

Besides, if the election is held without dissolution of parliament, there will be two parliaments after the election, and the number of MPs will stand at 600. “But, according to section 65 of the constitution, the number of parliament shall be 300,” he added.