Pakistan’s Supreme Court orders elections in Punjab, KPK in 90 days
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday that elections in Punjab and KPK should be held in the next 90 days with the chief justice saying that ‘democracy cannot exist without assemblies’.
The court has also ruled that President Arif Alvi’s orders will be binding on Punjab but not KPK.
Simultaneously, the apex court ruled that the president and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should announce polls in Punjab after consultation.
“In ordinary circumstances,” read the judgment, “the general election to the Punjab Assembly ought to be held on 09.04.2023, the date announced by the president in terms of his order of 20.02.2023.
“However, we are informed that on account of the delay in the emergence of the date for the holding of the general election, it may not be possible to meet the 90-day deadline stipulated by the constitution”, the court stated, ordering the ECP to propose a date that is as close as possible to the one proposed by the president.
“After consultation with the ECP, the president shall announce a date for the holding of the general election to the Punjab Assembly.”
Similarly, the court ordered the KPK governor to announce the date for polls after consulting with the ECP.
The verdict was split 3-2 with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail dissenting with the majority. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar supported the ruling.
The dissenting note maintained that the suo motu was not maintainable.
The bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial concluded the two-day-long proceedings in the suo motu case on Tuesday. Concluding the hearing, the bench reserved the verdict and said it would be announced before 11am Wednesday (today).
