Supreme Court ordered to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 90 days
According to the details, the Supreme Court gave a safe decision to hear the automatic notice case related to the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sheikh Rasheed, Fawad Chaudhry, Faisal Javed, Shibli Faraz and Shireen Mazari were present in the court room along with Attorney General and PML-N lawyers. A large number of media representatives were also present in the court to hear the verdict while Barrister Ali Zafar, Faisal Chaudhry and Shoaib Shaheen along with other senior lawyers were also present in the court. The decision was also announced in Karachi and Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court through video link.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court delivered the decision by three to two. The court ordered elections to be held in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 90 days. Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah declared the petitions inadmissible. The Supreme Court in its judgment said that it is the responsibility of the Governor to give the date of election in KP. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa violated the constitution by not declaring elections. The decision said that whether the governor dissolves the assembly or not, after the dissolution of the assembly, in any case, the election should be held within 90 days. If the governor dissolves the assembly, he will also give the date.
The court ordered Governor KP to give the date of the election after consultation with the Election Commission. The Supreme Court in its decision said that it is the responsibility of the President to give the date of elections in Punjab. The President has given April 9 as the date for the elections, which is constitutionally correct. Elections in Punjab will be held on April 9. The decision said that if the election is not possible on the date given by the President, then the President should consult the Election Commission and give a new date. The court decision said that the President’s decision regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not valid but the decision regarding Punjab is constitutional. Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal said that the matter of history came before us after the dissolution of the assemblies. The constitution fixes the timing of general elections.
Sub-Editor: Ghufran majeed