ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that its judgment delivered on April 4, which fixed May 14 as the date for holding the Punjab Assembly elections, was in the field and all the judicial and administrative authorities of the country.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar, heard the request of Sardar Kashif Khan to hold the general elections of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies on the same date. .
The court adjourned the hearing till April 27 after Attorney General (AG) Mansoor Awan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Farooq H Naik met the bench in the chamber and asked the judges about the conversation between the senior members of the cabinet. Chat and informed a senior about their conversation. Officials of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He said that the break is being taken due to Eid-ul-Fitr holidays as many political leaders and party chiefs have left or are going to Islamabad from their native areas to celebrate Eid.
He told the bench that a meeting between the political leaders was scheduled on April 26 and a progress report would be submitted to the court on April 27. Later, the court adjourned the case till April 27 for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, the court, after issuing its written order in the matter, stated that the date of Punjab Provincial Assembly elections has already been fixed as May 14, 2023 in its judgment in the application regarding delay in the elections. Field and therefore its order is binding on all judicial and administrative authorities of the country under Article 189 and Article 190 of the Constitution.
Chief Justice Bandyal said that the Supreme Court’s decision to hold elections on May 14 will not be withdrawn. He further said that no leader of any political party called the election decision wrong. “Talks can be successful if it is a two-way street. It is requested that the party leaders sit today instead of after Eid,” said Chief Justice Bandyal.
He also suggested that as per the suggestion of Jamaat-e-Islami chief, the elections could be held in July after Eid-ul-Azha. On this, the PPP lawyer said that the ruling alliance will talk to Maulana Fazlur Rehman during the Eid holidays.
The court appreciated and welcomed the proposal saying that the first meeting of representatives of all political parties is being held today (Thursday).
The court then adjourned the matter till 4 pm and directed the AG to report the progress in the matter to the chamber.
Earlier, in compliance with the April 19 court order, federal representatives and senior leaders of all political parties appeared before the court on Thursday and apprised the court of their parties’ stand regarding political negotiations. Date of holding general elections to the National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies.
Farooq H. Naik, on behalf of the PPP, informed the court that such negotiations have been initiated among the allies of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and it has been agreed that the heads of all political parties Will meet the opposition. The parties will arrive at an agreed date to hold general elections to all the five assemblies simultaneously.
Khawaja Saad Rafique appeared on behalf of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and supported the statement made by the People’s Party. He also expressed his party’s willingness to hold talks with all political parties to arrive at a consensus date.
Similarly, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira, MQMP’s Engineer Sabir Hussain Qaim Khani, PMLQ’s Tariq Bashir Cheema, BAP’s Asrarullah Tareen and BNP Mengal’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also appeared before the court. Supported the views of Farooq H. Naik and Saad Rafiq.
Similarly, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi assured the court that despite his party’s misgivings about the political climate and mood, his party would negotiate a fixed date for holding general elections. Therefore, it is ready to move forward within the framework of the constitution. Five simultaneous assemblies
However, Qureshi stressed that the negotiation process should not end in an open-ended manner and should not turn into a conspiracy to delay the elections. He said that such a process should be regulated by a time frame, failing which the decision of the court for the general elections to the Punjab Provincial Assembly to be held on May 14, 2023, would be complied with. Similarly, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq also appeared in the court.
“Hearing the positive statements of the country’s political leadership representing all the major political parties regarding the simultaneous holding of the general elections of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies, it is hoped that they will soon agree on the date of the elections. Later,” the court order said.
“However, the court is also impressed to note that all political leaders have affirmed their loyalty to the Constitution of Pakistan, which is supreme and must be followed,” the order added. “We know that if political dialogue expands to address all grievances, it is likely to be a lengthy process and the proper forum for this is the political arena and political institutions,” the order said.
However, the court did not find any reservations on the negotiations focusing on a single agenda item, i.e. fixing the date of general elections by consensus on the same date.
