Govt to bring another resolution against SC’s Punjab poll verdict

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to bring another resolution in National Assembly (NA) against the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in polls delay case, nullifying the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone Punjab elections, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Addressing a meeting of leaders of all coalition parties, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said that with the recent decisions of the Supreme Court (SC), a mockery was being made with the constitution and laws of the country.

The prime minister referred to a decision of the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court over holding of elections in two provinces, and said that a mockery was being made with constitution and law and fate of the nation was being decided with strange decisions.

PM Shehbaz said that he wanted to say that such kind of treatment with the constitution and law had never been witnessed before and ‘such a terrible scene has never met eyes’.

The three-member bench had rejected the appeal for constitution of a full bench and similarly, political parties’ pleas were also rejected, he added.

The prime minister elaborated that last week, they held a detailed meeting, followed by two cabinet meetings and parliamentary meetings over the evolving situation.

“How a decision of another bench was neglected while members of the three-judge bench who had earlier recused themselves and again joined it!” he questioned.

A circular was issued over Justice Isa’s directive, followed by formation of a six-member bench that took up the issue and decided it, he added.

The prime minister said the members of the National Assembly had debated the issue in the ongoing session and a resolution had already been passed while tomorrow, another resolution would be tabled in the house.

He also highlighted the directive of the three-member bench with regard to holding of elections in Punjab province and the observation over election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PM Shehbaz said that purpose behind holding of the meeting of coalition parties was to mull over the situation and evolve a solid response.

SC verdict

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) March 22 order on Punjab elections null and void.

A three-member bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — announced the reserved verdict on the PTI’s petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order postponing the elections in Punjab and KP.

The Supreme Court declared the ECP’s order postponing the provincial assembly elections until October 8 as “unconstitutional” and ordered the government to release Rs21 billion funds for elections in Punjab by April 10.

The top court directed to conduct Punjab polls on May 14. The SC further directed the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the commission. “The court will issue an appropriate order in case of non-provision of funds,” the verdict read.