Punjab election case: SC to hear ECP’s review plea tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will conduct the hearing of a review petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the Punjab general elections on Tuesday, ARY News reported.

A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will hear the ECP’s review petition regarding Punjab elections. Justice Ejazul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar will be the other members of the bench.

The top court issued notices to the attorney general, ECP and other respondents in the case.

Earlier, the Supreme Court – in its April 4 order – declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections to the Punjab Assembly till October 8 “unconstitutional” and fixed May 14 as a new date.

Read more: ECP FILES PLEA IN SC SEEKING REVIEW OF MAY 14 PUNJAB POLLS ORDER

In a 14-page review petition filed by the ECP on May 3, the electoral body pleaded with the Supreme Court to suspend its May 14 decision until a verdict on the revision petition on the issue.

“SC should review its decision as the judiciary doesn’t have the authority to give the date of elections,” the ECP petition read.

“If the decision is not suspended, the election commission will suffer an irreparable loss,” the petitioner pleaded.

The electoral watchdog further requested the apex court to “accept the instant Review Petition by revisiting, reviewing, reconsidering and recalling its April 4 order”.