Delay in KP, Punjab polls: SC to hold daily hearing into case

• “No more delay will be accepted on this matter,” the CJP.
• He said public representative Act’s section 57 needed interpretation.
• Nine judges reached the court room for the hearing.

ISLAMABAD: Issuing notices to various stakeholders including the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Supreme Court has adjourned hearing, till 11:00 am tomorrow, into the case pertaining to delaying elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab after dissolution of the provincial assemblies.

Chief Justice Supreme Court Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the hearing into the case would be held daily. Nine judges reached the court room for the hearing of a big constitutional issue.

The chief justice said the assemblies had been dissolved, however election schedule was not released as yet. He said the public representative Act’s section 57, related to election, needed an interpretation. It was a constitutional matter to hold elections in 90 days, he added.

“No more delay will be accepted on this matter. Speakers of the two assemblies have already filed appeals over the issue. It is an extremely serious issue related to people, therefore we took suo moto notice of it,” he said adding that the court would gather all the parties on February 24 and ask them to prepare on the matter. Then, we would resume hearing on the matter on February 27 (Monday).

On request to hear political parties for their being direct parties, the CJP said they must be heard.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar said the matter had a direct link to the political parties, so there was no harm in listening to them. Advocate Azhar Siddique said the apex court should also look into the verdicts of the Lahore and Peshawar high courts on the same issue.

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CJP takes suo moto notice on delay in Punjab, KP elections

Supreme Court took suo moto notice on delay in Punjab, KP elections...

The court said the assembly speakers contacted the top court for the governors did not release election schedule, despite passage of six weeks to dissolution of the assemblies as the constitution bound holding elections within 90 days.

The SC issued notices to the attorney general, election commission and advocate generals. The court said it also issued notices to the president, governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and others responsible for holding elections. The court also issued notices to the cabinet secretary and chief secretaries of Punjab and KP.

The chief justice said the matter would be heard on emergency basis. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said they would see if the dissolution of assemblies was constitutional or not. Mansoor Shah said it was a matter related to the public and election of the public representatives had to be done.