PESHAWAR; In a significant development, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking any action against National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub over allegations of failing to file an asset declaration report.
The order came during a hearing of Omar Ayub’s petition against the ECP’s notice, which alleged that he had not submitted the required statement of assets and liabilities. The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Khurshid Iqbal.
During the proceedings, Ayub’s counsel informed the court that the ECP had been duly provided with his client’s asset details within the legally mandated period of 120 days. He argued that although the response was submitted on time, the ECP remained unsatisfied and issued a notice beyond the legal timeframe. According to the counsel, under electoral laws, the ECP cannot initiate proceedings based on asset complaints once the 120-day limit has passed.
The Additional Attorney General (AAG) told the bench that a similar case is currently under hearing in Abbottabad. However, Ayub’s lawyer contended that the circumstances of the two cases were entirely different.
At one point, the bench remarked on the possibility of merging the two cases or hearing them jointly. Ayub’s counsel responded that the court may proceed as it finds appropriate, but emphasized that the ECP’s case lacked legal standing and should be dismissed outright.
The court, while adjourning the hearing to a later date, barred the ECP from initiating any further proceedings against the opposition leader until a final decision is made. Omar Ayub had submitted his asset report to the ECP on December 31, 2024.
