By Ghulam Haider
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has deemed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone assembly elections in two provinces as unconstitutional. On Tuesday, the court ordered the government to conduct snap polls in Punjab on May 14, following a challenge by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The SC bench maintained that 13 days were wasted because of the ECP’s unlawful decision.
The ECP had delayed the Punjab elections from April 30 to October 8 after the government refused to provide funds, citing economic difficulties.
In January, the PTI dissolved the provincial assemblies it controlled in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a bid to force early national elections, a demand made by Khan since his removal from power a year ago.
قوم کو آئین کی فتح مبارک ! سپریم کورٹ کا فیصلہ ہر پاکستانی شہری کے حقوق کا فیصلہ ہے۔۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 4, 2023
Pakistan typically holds national and provincial elections simultaneously. However, the constitution requires that elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of a legislative assembly. The Supreme Court, in a split 3-2 verdict, ordered the ECP to announce the election schedule after it refused to do so.
Last month, the ECP postponed the Punjab elections to October 8, prompting the PTI to challenge the decision in court.
The Supreme Court ruled that the ECP exceeded its jurisdiction by delaying the Punjab election and ordered the government to release PKR 20 billion ($70m) by April 10 for the polls. The court also instructed the ECP to submit a report on available funds on April 11.
https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1643217258448289793?cxt=HHwWgoDQqf7Y8M0tAAAA
Regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the court suggested that a petition be filed in an appropriate forum.
Talking to DubaiNews.tv, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry praised the verdict, saying it upheld the constitution and represented the “future of Pakistan”.
Senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi called it a “watershed moment” in the country’s history, while legal expert Asad Rahim Khan lauded the court’s decision, stating that it had “kept democracy on the rails”.
However, lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii warned that the government might attempt to delay the court order through “creative excuse-making”.
The court’s decision marks a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape, as the country prepares for general elections. The delay of the Punjab polls had led to accusations of political interference, with the government accused of using economic difficulties as an excuse to postpone the vote.
The Supreme Court’s ruling reaffirms the importance of upholding constitutional principles, which are seen as key to ensuring free and fair elections. The decision may also boost the PTI’s chances in the upcoming elections, with Imran Khan’s popularity reportedly surging in recent months.
The court’s decision highlights the role of judicial institutions in safeguarding democratic processes and may serve as a reminder to governments and electoral bodies of their obligations under the law.
The federal cabinet on Tuesday rejected the Supreme Court’s verdict that termed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone polls in Punjab till October 8 as unconstitutional and ordered elections on May 14, Aaj News reported.
Cabinet the verdict not “actionable”
The federal cabinet has rejected the Supreme Court’s “unanimous verdict” on the case pertaining to the postponement of election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The development came during the cabinet’s meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, held after a three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar as members — announced verdict on the matter which it had reserved a day earlier.
Reportedly, the government would raise its voice in Parliament regarding the verdict. It was also decided in the meeting that the coalition parties in power will talk about the apex court’s decision in parliament.
Responding to the cabinet’s decision, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said the federal cabinet’s decision to reject the supreme court’s ruling is “not enough.” “Those who are trying to impose ‘Ladla’ in defiance of the Constitution and law should be held accountable,” she said.
آج کا فیصلہ اس سازش کا آخری وار ہے جس کا آغاز آئین کو re-write کر کے پنجاب حکومت پلیٹ میں رکھ بنچ کے لاڈلے عمران کو پیش کی گئی کہ لو بیٹا، توڑ دو تاکہ ہم جیسے سہولت کاروں کی موجودگی اور نگرانی میں تمھیں دوبارہ سیلیکٹ کیا جائے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
The apex court has directed the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the ECP. The bench also said that the federal government had been asked to assist the election commission, and ordered authorities to release Rs. 21 billion to the ECP by April 10.
2018 میں جو کام فیض، کھوسہ اور ثاقب نثار نے انجام دیا تھا، وہ ذمہ داری اب اس بنچ نے اٹھا لی ہے۔ اس خوفناک اور ڈھٹائی سے کی گئی سہولت کاری اور ون مین شو کے خلاف سپریم کورٹ کی اکثریت نے بغاوت کر دی۔ وقت آ گیا ہے کہ پارلیمنٹ اس سہولت کاری کو اپنے آئینی اور قانونی ہاتھوں سے روک دے۔ https://t.co/8JOoBEez66
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
As per the court, candidates can submit nomination papers from April 10. The ECP will publish the list of candidates on April 19, and electoral symbols will be issued by April 20.
وفاقی کابینہ کی جانب سے فیصلہ مسترد کر دینا کافی نہیں ہے۔ آئین اور قانون کی دھجیاں اڑا کر لاڈلے کو مسلط کرنے کی کوشش کرنے والوں کو کٹہرے میں کھڑا کرنا چاہیے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
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