Muzaffargarh ( The COW News Digital)The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially suspended the by-election schedule for the NA-175 constituency in Muzaffargarh, a seat recently vacated by disqualified Member of the National Assembly Jamshed Dasti.
The suspension comes following a ruling by the Lahore High Court, which directed the ECP to halt the election process until further judicial instructions. The by-election was initially scheduled to fill the seat left vacant after Dasti was declared ineligible due to fake academic credentials.
Last month, the ECP disqualified Jamshed Dasti after a thorough investigation confirmed that his educational degrees were forged. As a result, his membership in the National Assembly was annulled, and the seat was declared vacant.
In light of the legal challenges surrounding the case, the ECP has now postponed the election process for NA-175, stating that “the by-election schedule shall remain suspended until the court issues a final verdict.“
The official statement from the ECP clarified:
“The by-election for NA-175, Muzaffargarh, is suspended in compliance with the Lahore High Court’s directive. No further steps will be taken until the legal proceedings are concluded.”
This move marks yet another high-profile electoral controversy, raising questions over candidate scrutiny and the verification process used to evaluate politicians’ eligibility. The case of Jamshed Dasti is not the first of its kind; several lawmakers in the past have faced similar disqualifications based on fraudulent qualifications.
Legal experts believe that the High Court’s intervention could delay the electoral process in the constituency for weeks or even months. Meanwhile, political observers suggest that the ECP may consider introducing stricter mechanisms to verify academic records prior to nomination acceptance.
The suspension of the by-election also puts on hold any immediate political movement in the region, with local constituents left waiting for clarity on their representation in the National Assembly.
As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes remain on the Lahore High Court’s next decision, which will determine whether fresh elections in NA-175 can proceed or if further investigations will be required.
