All eyes on SC as polls delay hearing resumes today

As the impasse over the delay of elections continues, despite directives from the apex court to initiate a dialogue among political parties to decide on a date for polls, no concrete progress has been made, leaving the fate of the electoral process hanging in the balance. To end the uncertainty, the Supreme Court of Pakistan is all set to resume hearing elections delay suo moto today.

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar will resume hearing at 11:30 am.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned Attorney General Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to discuss legal matters before the hearing.

Last week, the Supreme Court asked all political leaders to initiate negotiations on elections, and update it on the progress, however, after in-chamber consultations, the CJP adjourned the hearing till April 27.

During the proceedings, the CJP remarked that the elections can be held after Eidul Azha in July. It is expected that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will show some flexibility, the CJP said, adding the court will not withdraw its May 14 decision.

PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Babar Awan, PPP’s Latif Khosa, Farooq H Naek and Qamar Zaman Kaira, PML-N leader Ata Tarar, federal ministers Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Tariq Basheer Cheema, Saad Rafique, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq are present in the courtroom.

The top court said in its five-page order observed that having heard the positive statements of political leadership of the country representing all major political parties with respect to the simultaneous holding of general elections of the national assembly and four provincial assemblies gives cause for optimism that they would agree to an election date sooner rather than later.

Citing its earlier order the court said the judgment relating to May 14 as general election in Punjab Assembly is in field which ruling is binding on all judicial and executive authorities.

The bench said in its order, “We are cognizant that if political dialogue extends to address all grievances, then it is likely to be a lengthy process and the correct forum for that is the political arena and political institutions. However, we did not find any reservations to the negotiations being centred solely on a one-point agenda, namely, consensual fixation of a date for holding of general elections of the national assembly and four provincial assemblies which is a constitutional and legal question.

It is important that such result is accomplished expeditiously because our judgment rendered in Constitution Petition No.5 of 2023 on 04.04.2023 has already fixed the date of elections to the Punjab Provincial Assembly as 14.05.2023. That judgment holds the field and, therefore, its ruling is binding on all judicial and executive authorities in the country under Article 189 and Article 190 of the Constitution“.

via Original Source