The Pakistani Supreme Court has declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone the Punjab assembly elections until October 8 as illegal and unconstitutional and has therefore revoked it. Elections in Punjab will now be held on May 14.
On Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial ruled that the ECP lacks authority to move the election date, rendering his decision in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa poll delay case.
The CJP announced that instead of April 30, the elections in Punjab will now take place on May 14.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court, which overruled the government’s objections to the bench and its request for a full court, announced the decision on the PTI petition contesting the ECP’s decision to postpone the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar announced the reserved verdict. CJP Bandial read out the judgement.
As many as six hearings were conducted on the case.
The court had also sought a report on security from the defence secretary and a report from the finance secretary regarding the provision of funds before the announcement of the verdict today.
Yesterday, the defence secretary requested the court for an in-camera briefing but the court asked him to furnish what he wanted to say in a sealed envelope which would be returned to him in the same manner.
Cabinet meeting summoned
The federal cabinet meeting has been called once more by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today.
At 1 pm, a meeting will be held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz.
The members will confer regarding the Supreme Court decision and other legal matters.
Additionally, the federal cabinet met yesterday.
It decided to withdraw the services of the Registrar Supreme Court and directed him to report to the Establishment Division.
The Cabinet, which met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, considered the issue of the circular issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court against the order of the court.
