PUK Files Suit in Response to Masrour Barzani's Federal Court Case

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The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has taken legal action against Masrour Barzani's case to postpone the elections, as a response to the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) attempts to delay the process. 

In order to postpone the parliamentary elections, Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, filed a case in the Federal Supreme Court against the Chairman of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). In the interest of the IHEC and the timely staging of elections, Shalaw Kosrat Rasul, a member of the PUK Political Bureau, has filed a lawsuit to the president and justices of the Federal Supreme Court.  

Shalaw Kosrat Rasul's lawsuit claims that the prime minister's submission of the case goes against the provisions of Article (19 / 2) of the IHEC Law No. 31 of 2019, as amended. which states: (The decisions made by the Council of Commissioners on electoral matters are not subject to appeal anywhere other than the Electoral Judiciary.)

Additionally, it is mentioned: "The timing of the lawsuit's filing contradicts the provisions outlined in Article (23) of the Court's Rules of Procedure, which specifies that no electoral legislation or electoral text can be appealed beyond six months from the date of the elections.  Barzani's case is made just one month prior to the election date, which is established by a regional decree.  Furthermore, the procedures and rules of the IHEC pertaining to the electoral process are based on the relevant electoral law of the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Court Decision No. 83, together with its counterparts in 131 and 185 / Federal / 2023."

The PUK's lawsuit also declares that halting the IHEC's activities during this crucial period, as the election day draws near and the IHEC has fulfilled its election-related obligations, such as printing ballot forms and securing voting machine program contracts, will result in the squandering of millions of dollars and cause disruption in the IHEC's activities. However, it undermines the endeavors of the political party and candidates, as well as brings harm to the Kurdish population due to the lack of an elected government.  



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