The Election Commission of Pakistan has clarified that it is ‘reviewing’ the situation that has emerged from the Lahore High Court decision that struck down the appointment of returning officers. The Commission has reiterated that it is prepared to hold elections on February 8.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the Commission’s spokesperson rejected a recent statement froom Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf about a possible delay in elections as an attempt to mislead the public.

The statement said that the ECP had begun training ROs for the election, a task which had to be completed before the election schedule was issued as these officers would be responsible for accepting and srutinising nomination papers.

However, with the LHC ruling against the ROs in a petition filed by PTI had created a new situation which is being reviewed, the statement added.

The ECP said that it would reveal its strategy regarding the matter ‘soon’. However, it said that ECP could not be held responsible for the situation.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had responded to an ECP notification suspending the appointment of returning officers on Thursday as an attempt to delay elections.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Gohar said that ECP had made multiple such attempts to delay elections before even though there was a written agreement with the president that elections would be held on February 8.

He added that the PTI had always tried to ensure elections would be held on time.

No plan to approach SC

Later on, the ECP issued another statement denying statements being attributed to it through ‘sources’ that the Commission would approach the Supreme Court over the matter soon.

The statement said that the news had been aired by ARY and other channels and said it was completely baseless. The statemen said that the Commission reserved the right to act against the channels that had aired the item.

ECP said that it is following a ‘comprehensive’ schedule for fair elections in the country and it was determined to meet its targets on time.