After the dissolution of the five-judge bench, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) will hear the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition regarding the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab from today.
PTI’s appeal against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the elections in both provinces will be heard in the Supreme Court.
As part of a strategy to win early elections, PTI had dissolved its governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in January this year at the behest of party chief Imran Khan. The Imran Khan-led party has been demanding early elections since the party’s government was overthrown in April last year.
The hearing could not be held on Thursday as Justice Aminuddin Khan, a member of the bench hearing the case, recused himself from the proceedings citing the Supreme Court’s order to stay the proceedings under Article 184(3).
Today, a four-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Atta Bandyal will hold the hearing again. According to the Supreme Court, the bench will hear the case again today (Friday) at 11:30 am without Justice Khan.
The original bench included Chief Justice Bandyal, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Aminuddin and Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel. However, Justice Aminuddin left the bench saying that the three-judge bench headed by Justice Faiz Isa has decided to adjourn the hearing of 184/3 cases till rules are framed under Article 191 of the Constitution.
On Thursday, the bench left the courtroom after Justice Amin withdrew from the case. Four hours later, the court staff told the media that the case has been heard on Friday at 11:30 am before the same bench, which will no longer have Justice Aminuddin.
The PTI, seeking an early date for polls in the two provinces, filed the petition in the Supreme Court after the ECP decided to hold polls in Punjab from April 30 to October 8, as finance and security officials He expressed his reluctance to support the electoral process.
During the hearing yesterday, Justice Mandukhel discussed the merits of the case as the Supreme Court was yet to issue a court order.
While the Supreme Court has also sought an assurance from the government to reduce the political temperature of the country.
