SC orders to hold Punjab, KP polls within 90 days

• SC announced verdict in KP Punjab polls case
• SC ordered to hold polls in KP, Punjab within 90 days
• A five-member bench heard the case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has announced the verdict in the sou motu case of delay in Punjab and KP polls and ordered to hold the polls within 90 days.

The decision was announced by a three-two split. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah declared the petitions inadmissible.

Supreme Court has issued a written order in this regard maintaining that the delay in the announcement of polls in KP by the governor is a constitutional violation and ordered the governor to announce the date after consultation with ECP.

The court stated that the KP Assembly had been dissolved after the governor signed the summary, while the Punjab Assembly had dissolved on its own after 48 hours as the governor did not sign the summary.

The order said that the matter of Punjab is different and maintained that the date given by the President for holding elections in Punjab is constitutional.

The court ordered that if the elections in Punjab would be difficult to hold on the date announced by the president then the president should announce a new date after consultation with ECP.

SC also ordered the government to play its constitutional role to hold elections in both provinces.

Ahead of the announcement, security has been kept tight in the apex court and the entry of irrelevant persons has been banned.

Islamabad police personnel are posted in large numbers in the premises of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, rangers and FC personnel were posted outside and at the entrances of the court.

Earlier, the verdict was reserved by the apex court on Tuesday to be announced later that day.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail heard the case.

The court while hearing the arguments from the relevant parties directed that the date of the polls in KP and Punjab must be announced in consultation.

During the hearing, Chief Justice said that no constitutional body can extend the period of elections except the court.

The SC said that even if the court decides on the matter, the litigation will continue which is not in favour of the people and the political parties.

The SC had taken the suo motu notice of an apparent delay in the elections of the two assemblies, on February 23

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