The Lahore High Court on Tuesday admitting a petition of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for regular hearing challenging bar on parliamentarians from running the campaign in by-elections, told the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit its reply by Wednesday (today).
Insaf leader Shoaib Siddique challenging the ban argued that the impugned notification was in sheer violation of the fundamental rights and norms of the democracy.
The petitioner also said party Chairman Imran Khan by virtue of the impugned ban could not visit the area of any constituency, where bye-elections were being held.
He said it was integral to an electoral campaign that the party leaders visit the constituencies and address the electorate and meet the party workers. He said the impugned notification stifled the electioneering plans of the political party by curbing its political activism.
He argued that the impugned notification to the extent of this restriction was unconstitutional and offended fundamental rights.