The nation’s highest electoral body will present a review appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision to hold snap elections in Punjab on Thursday, and a three-member Supreme Court bench will hear it.
SC hear review petition against elections: A three-member special Supreme Court bench, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Muneeb Akhtar, will hear the plea.
All parties, including the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), have received notices from the top court’s registrar.
“The Supreme Court deemed the initial decision ‘unconstitutional’ and rescheduled the Punjab Assembly elections, which were originally planned for October 8, to take place on April 4.” The new date set for the elections is May 14.
The decision declares that it has quashed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order dated 22.03.2023, which had declared unconstitutional, devoid of lawful authority or jurisdiction, null and void from the beginning, and without any legal effect. The Constitution or the law does not allow the Commission to extend the election date beyond the 90-day window specified in Article 224(2) of the Constitution.”
Nevertheless, Parliament rejected the court’s ruling for prompt provincial elections, resulting in the non-implementation of the ruling. Further, Many said it violated the Constitution and court orders.
The then-Parliament mandated a complete panel consisting of all judges to hear the case.
Earlier this month, the SC ruled that the ECP should turn to the highest court to seek relief if the executive authorities refused to give the commission the support it needed to carry out its obligations under Article 220 of the Constitution (executive authorities to assist Commission, etc.), which requires them to hold free and fair elections.