ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition and the opposition will appear in the Supreme Court shortly after the 4 pm deadline given by the three-member bench for talks on the election date expires.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry, before appearing before the bench once again, said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has yet to approach the Imran Khan-led party for talks. did not
Earlier today, the Supreme Court directed the disputing ruling and opposition political parties to immediately reach a consensus on the election date and adjourn the bench hearing by 4 pm.
These instructions came after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) assured the Supreme Court that they would sit with the PTI and find a solution on the election date.
People’s Party’s Farooq H. Naik and Muslim League (N)’s Khawaja Saad Rafique assured the three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, to negotiate with the opposition party.
“We will hold talks with the PTI so that the agitation ends,” Naik told the Supreme Court.
While Khawaja Saad Rafiq told the court: “[We] are ready to sit down with the opposition and find a solution on the election date.”
PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi also gave the same assurance.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Bandial comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar is hearing the election delay case.
At the start of the hearing, the chief justice praised Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq for his efforts to initiate dialogue between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government.
“You have taken a good step. Allah will make you successful,” Chief Justice Bandial told the JI chief.
The Chief Justice then turned to PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and asked if his party was okay with the Supreme Court’s advice regarding negotiations.
PTI believes that the country should move forward with constitutional supremacy. Qureshi told the Chief Justice that PTI always believes in the Constitution, we will accept whatever the Supreme Court orders.
The Chief Justice then inquired about the whereabouts of Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan.
AGP Awan apologized to the court for the delay and told the bench that government officials would come late as they thought the hearing would resume at 11:30 am.
The Chief Justice adjourned the hearing for 15 minutes.
CJP thanks PPP’s Zardari for backing court
When the hearing resumed, counsel representing one of the petitioners submitted that if the elections were held on the same date, all the issues would be resolved.
Shah Khawar said that we hope that all the parties will agree on one point.
On this, Chief Justice Bandial remarked that ‘court decisions create complications’.
“It is a blessing if the political parties settle matters with mutual understanding,” he added.
He said that the court will first hear the government and directed the representatives to inform the bench about the one-point agenda related to the elections.
The distinguished judge also appreciated the top leadership of the country for attending the hearing on the call of the court.
Chief Justice Bandial remarked that the nation is restless, there will be peace if the leadership solves the problem.
The Chief Justice praised the Ministry of Defense for a good briefing on the matter and thanked PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for agreeing to the court’s proposal for talks.
Chief Justice Bandial said that it is a good thing that Muslim League-N has also agreed to our proposal.
Ruling coalition back talks
On this, Naik said that it has always been the stance of the ruling coalition that the elections should be held simultaneously as the 90-day period has expired in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the coalition government is consulting on same-day elections and will engage PTI and allies on the issue soon after Eid-ul-Fitr.
After that, Khawaja Saad Rafique proceeded towards the rostrum.
He said that his party is ready to hold talks with the opposition to find a solution and hold elections on the same day.
Rafiq said that we politicians are friends of each other. Social media has a big role to play in showing differences.
Meanwhile, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that BNP Mengal leaders are currently in Chagai but are standing with the government.
He said that if we sit together, a solution will come out.
Apart from this, Qamar Zaman Kaira of People’s Party said that he agrees with Rafiq’s statement. He said that his party first started consulting with allies.
Tariq Bashir Cheema of Muslim League (Q) said that they have been demanding elections on the same day since the first day.
Cheema said that we will support same day elections in any case.
Meanwhile, Sabir Qaim Khani of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) said that he stands by the Supreme Court and will accept the mutually agreed decision.
Qaim Khani said that we support simultaneous elections and dialogue.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Asrarullah Tareen told the court that it is necessary to hold elections on a single date as it will affect smaller provinces like Balochistan.
PTI fears govt may prolong talks
After that, Chief Justice Bandial called PTI’s Qureshi to the rostrum.
Qureshi told the bench that his party was ready for the elections and would support dialogue to take political matters forward.
On the Punjab elections, Qureshi commented: “The PDM said that if the Punjab Assembly dissolves, we (the government) will dissolve the National Assembly. We (the PTI-led coalition) have dissolved the PDM. Dissolved the provincial assembly on advice. He added that the legal path forward was “clear” but he would also look at the “political path” ahead.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Muslim League (N) backed away from its position. He added that if the PTI is ready for “comprehensive negotiations” within the ambit of the constitution.
The PTI vice-chairman also told the court that his party feared that the government might prolong the talks.
On the issue of election-related funds, Qureshi said the government’s decision to run the country through parliament would lead to “chaos”.
Qureshi said that if reasonable proposals are presented, a way forward will be found.
On this, Muslim League-N comrades again came to the rostrum and said that they do not agree with any of Qureshi’s statements. He added that the court should not be turned into a “debate club”.
While PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira said that no harsh remarks should be made in the honorable court.
He said that we will hold political discussions on the forum of Parliament.
Kaira also denied that the government would try to delay the election issue.
“We assure the court that time will not be wasted beyond the constitutional period,” Kaira added.
Moving forward, Chief Justice Bandial called Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed to the rostrum.
The politician said that the decision of the court will be the decision of the entire nation. However, he expressed fear that this matter will be delayed till Eid-ul-Azha.
JI chief suggests polls after Eid-ul-Adha
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq suggested that elections should be held across the country after Eid-ul-Adha.
Sharing his arguments with the court, Haq maintained that the elections were an issue for the entire nation rather than just a couple of political parties. He said that his party is not with PTI or PDM.
He then proposed to hold the elections on an “appropriate date” after Eid-ul-Adha.
“The judiciary should leave the matter to the political parties and respect their word,” Haq said.
“The elections have already been delayed for the last 90 days. If the elections can wait for 105 days after the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies, they can be held after 205 days.
He further said that judiciary, army and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should stay away from politics and urged everyone to take a step back from their positions.
SC will not overturn polls decision: CJP
Meanwhile, PPP’s Naik requested the court to allow the Election Commission to extend the poll date so that parties can issue tickets.
Naik said that the Election Commission cannot extend the date of elections after the court order.
Chief Justice Bandial remarked that the Election Commission can change the schedule without changing the date of the elections.
The top judge, however, said the Supreme Court would ensure that its May 14 judgment stands.
Chief Justice Bandial 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 Bandial.
The Chief Justice also suggested that elections could be held in July after Eid-ul-Azha as suggested by the JI chief.
On this, the PPP lawyer said that the ruling alliance will talk to Maulana Fazlur Rehman during the Eid holidays.
However, Chief Justice Bandial remarked that PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto had made a good effort and hoped that the JUI(F) chief would show leniency.
“The court will not take back its May 14 decision [and] the court decision cannot be ignored. Reversing a court decision is not a joke. It is a procedure to nullify court decisions,” Chief Justice Bandial said.
The Chief Justice then directed all the political parties to start talks immediately and inform the court by 4 pm today.
SC summons all political parties
The Supreme Court had summoned the political parties after AGP Awan told a three-judge bench that the government was trying to negotiate with the PTI over the elections.
The bench issued notices to the political parties while Chief Justice Bandial remarked that they would try to dispose of the case soon after Eid-ul-Fitr.
The summons were issued during the hearing of the three petitions in which a bench headed by the Chief Justice asked the court to hold elections on the same date across the country.
One of the petitions was filed by the Ministry of Defense asking for elections to be held on the same date across the country and asking the court to order elections in Punjab on May 14.
The bench hearing the case is the one that announced the April 4 verdict directing the government and the ECP to hold snap polls in Punjab on May 14.
