Supreme court of Pakistan sends notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan after the Electoral watchdog refrains to conduct the Punjab Polls.
Today the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has sought assurances from the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the election delay case.
Also Read: Election Commission once again delayed Punjab Polls till 8th October
A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, heard the plea. The court also issued notices to governors of two provinces through the chief secretary.
As per details, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that it is unfortunate that all the respondents are in confrontation with each other. The federal government and PTI have to assure that they want a transparent election or not.
“The court only needs assurance from both sides. The elections should be peaceful, transparent, and fair. If the government and PTI want elections, they have to give assurances,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said
The SC’s judge said that the Constitution was interpreted while keeping the life and happiness of people in mind.
“The current situation is alarming. Elections can only be held when the conditions are favorable,” he said and insisted that one could not run away from the facts.
The chief justice maintained that the country’s atmosphere had turned poisonous due to political intolerance. “The present political situation is terrible. Politicians are at each other’s throats,” he said.
Justice Bandial asked both the government and the Imran Khan-led party to decide what is best for Pakistan.
The chief justice remarked that polls were essential for the functioning of the country’s governance system. “The election process should be transparent and peaceful. Article 218 calls for transparency of elections.”
Justice Bandial also questioned the performance of leaders in the country. “What have our leaders done so far?”
CJP also raised the question of delay in the election.
He said that the election date has been extended. Does Article 254 allow this? The court has one other case of Article 254 too. He added that the President’s date for the election is also not within 90 days.
The top judge added that the court was determined to “dispose of this case as soon as possible”.
“The Election Commission should answer the questions raised in PTI’s petition,” he said while addressing the electoral authority.
The supreme court adjourned the case till tomorrow (March 28).
ECP Delay the Elections
Remember that On Wednesday Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced to delay of the Punjab by-Polls that were scheduled to be held on 30th April 2023.
According to details, the Election Commission issued the Punjab Polls Program notification issued on 8th March and decided to postpone the Punjab election and announced 8th October 2023 as the new date for elections in Punjab.
The ECP spokesman said that President Dr. Arif Alvi has also been informed about the postponement of elections in Punjab, adding that the new election schedule will release soon.
The spokesperson added that the elections were postponed under Article 218(3) and Sections 58 and 8C of the Election Act, 2017.
As ECP delay the Punjab Elections, President Pendowns a letter to Premier Shehbaz Sharif urging him to direct ECP to conduct the election as per supreme court orders.
In a letter written to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the president asked him to direct the concerned authority to hold Punjab and KP elections on time and take measures in order to not get involved in contempt court complexities.
The letter further reads that the Primer should direct the concerned authorities to avoid human rights violations on social and print media as it happened in the recent past.
in response to President’s letter PM Shehbaz replied that his letter regarding the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections read like a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) press release which is “blatantly partisan in nature” and supports the Imran Khan-led party’s “one-sided and anti-government” views.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his reply, wrote that the letter did not reflect the constitutional position of the president and that is what you have constantly been doing۔ “Your letter contains one-sided, anti-government views that you express openly.”
The premier further added that on April 3, 2022, he dissolved the National Assembly and followed the unconstitutional directive of the former prime minister۔
“Your [president] order to dissolve the National Assembly was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on April 7۔
He added that President Alvi failed to fulfill the constitutional duty to administer the oath to him as the prime minister under Article 91, clause 5.
PM Shehbaz concluded his letter by saying that he is “fully aware” of his duties and the duties of the government. “Our government is fully committed to preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution and ensuring that the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of Pakistan are not violated,” he continued.
He said that the government is also determined to ensure that no one is allowed to violate the law, create unrest and attempt to cause irreparable harm to the state of Pakistan.
“I want to further assure you that our Government will thwart any efforts to undermine the constitutionally elected government,” he added.
