In a major development, the Supreme Court (SC) has declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on the Punjab election null and void.
The decision was announced by a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Munib Akhtar, which heard the PTI petition against the ECP.
Read more: SC bench dissolved again as Justice Mandokhail bows out in poll delay case
According to the details, polling day in Punjab and KP has been set for 14th May and the SC has directed the ECP to postpone the election program by 13 days, saying that the ECP could not go beyond the 90-day stipulated time. The SC also maintained that 13 days were wasted because of the ECP’s unlawful decision.
Furthermore, The federal government has been ordered to provide Rs 20 billion fund to the Election Commission by April 10, instead of April 30.
https://twitter.com/AsadKharal/status/1643161479309295616?s=20
The reserved verdict is being celebrated by PTI which has been actively campaigning for elections. Pertinent to mention that on PTI Chief Imran Khan’s advice, the Punjab and KP assemblies were dissolved in the first place.
“Congratulations to the nation on the victory of the Constitution! The decision of the Supreme Court is the decision in favor of the rights of every Pakistani citizen,” PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said.
قوم کو آئین کی فتح مبارک ! سپریم کورٹ کا فیصلہ ہر پاکستانی شہری کے حقوق کا فیصلہ ہے۔۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 4, 2023
“The attempt to deviate from the constitution is rejected. Necessity theory rejected. Pakistan Zindabad,” PTI Secretary General Asad Umar said.
آئین سے انحراف کی کوشش مسترد۔ نظریہ ضرورت مسترد۔ پاکستان زندہ باد
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 4, 2023
“Congratulation to the entire nation for upholding the constitution, the constitution of Pakistan is the foremost and this nation is the protector of the constitution,” former SAPM Dr Iftikhar Durrani said.
پوری قوم کو آئین کی پاسداری کی فتح مبارک، پاکستان کا آیئن سب سے مقدم ہے اور یہ قوم ہی آئین کی محافظ ہے ۔ pic.twitter.com/qgVGOO61Uo
— Dr. Iftikhar Durrani (@IftikharDurani) April 4, 2023
“The Supreme Court restored the Constitution and saved democracy. Apart from this decision, no other decision was possible while staying within the law and constitution. Political parties do not run away from the field. PDM also became part of the democratic process. This is a victory for democracy and the constitution,” Hammad Azhar said.
سپریم کورٹ نے آئین کو بحال کر دیا اور جمہوریت کو بچا لیا۔
قانون اور آئین کے دائرے میں رہتے ہوئے اس فیصلے کے علاوہ کوئی اور فیصلہ ممکن بھی نا تھا۔
سیاسی جماعتیں میدان سے بھاگتی نہیں۔ پی ڈی ایم بھی جمہوری عمل کا حصہ بنیں۔ یہ جمہوریت اور آئین کی فتح ہے۔— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) April 4, 2023
The Election Commission of Pakistan had earlier set the date for elections in Punjab on April 30, but later it was postponed to October 8 — in Punjab and KP as well. The move prompted PTI to file a petition against the ECP, triggering an intense legal battle in Supreme Court.
Read more: SC questions ECP decision to delay polls
During Monday’s hearing, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial questioned ECP’s decision to postpone the polls and said the law gives no one the authority to do so.