The hearing was then postponed till 11:30am tomorrow (Wednsdeay).
CJP says ECP decision to delay polls in Punjab & KP penned in haste. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial Tuesday said the decision to postpone polls in Punjab was penned in haste by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The CJP passed the remark after the Supreme Court resumed the hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhail asked the ECP what would the date for the election be if its decision for delaying the vote was revoked.
The hearing was then postponed till 11:30am tomorrow (Wednsdeay).
A day after a scathing dissenting note from Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on the March 1 verdict on Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial remarked that it was their “opinion” and had no link with the ongoing case.
CJP Bandial is heading the five-member larger bench hearing the plea. Apart from the CJP, the bench includes Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.
The Imran Khan-led party had challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to defer the Punjab polls till October 8.
The electoral body’s announcement came after financial and security authorities expressed their inability to support the electoral process.
Following this, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali also urged the electoral body to hold general elections on the same date (October 8) as the Punjab polls given the growing security threats from terror groups operating from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions.
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Today’s hearing
At the outset of the hearing, CJP Bandial welcomed the newly appointed Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan. While seeing “good friend” Farooq H Naek, the CJP remarked that the court would need the assistance of the senior lawyer on the matter.
No more delay
The CJP remarked that the court does not want to drag this matter.
He said that ECP’s jurisdiction as per yesterday’s order will be seen by the court, while the request of the ruling coalition parties to become a party in the case will be looked into later.
“Rule of law and democracy are two sides of a same coin. There should be mutual tolerance, patience and law and order” CJP Bandial observed.
Meanwhile, Naek interjected and told the bench that they were also stakeholders in the case.
At this, the CJP assured the senior lawyer that no one denied Naek’s importance but he believed that they shouldn’t engage in a legal controversy.
Direction of circumstances
He said that the parties had to decide the direction of the circumstances while the court had to keep the facts in view.
“On the March 1 verdict my stance is that the law empowers the president to give a date for the elections. If you want clarification on the March 1 decision then file a separate petition,” said the CJP. He added that the “simple question” in the case was whether the ECP could change the election date or not.
“If ECP has the power then the matter will be resolved,” said the CJP.
On the other hand, the attorney general contended that if the court decision was 4-3 then there was no order.
He added that if it was not a court order then the president could not give the election date.
“The March 1 decision should be decided first,” said the AGP.
‘Polls necessary for democracy’
At this, CJP Bandial remarked that right now the case was not about giving the election date but about the delay. He added that elections were necessary for a democracy.
“Two honourable judges gave a decision. It’s the opinion of those two judges but is not related to the current case. Do not bypass a sensitive matter,” remarked the CJP.
The AGP responded that the current petition was seeking the implementation of the court orders in the March 1 judgment.
At this, CJP Bandial remarked that the bench members were there to review the questions raised in the petition. Apex court’s jurisdiction wasn’t limited to just the petition, he added.
Formation of full court
On this point, AGP interjected and appealed for the formation of a full court on the matter.
“It is a request that this is an important matter and if the bench deems it appropriate then a full court should be formed,” said the AGP.
However, Justice Mandokhail remarked that the number of judges who favoured the March 1 ruling was an internal matter of the apex court.
“Just tell if the Constitution requires conducting elections in 90 days or not, and whether the ECP can postpone the date of election,” he asked.
Upon hearing Justice Mandokhail, the CJP thanked the judge for clearing the matter.
Meanwhile, PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar maintained that every institution has to work while staying within its constitutional bounds.
At this, CJP Bandial remarked that he expected the PTI’s senior leadership to have the same behaviour as expressed by the lawyer. He also asked the lawyer whether he talked to the senior party leadership.
“PTI would have to be the first [one to speak] because they have approached the court,” the chief justice stated. He advised the parties of the case to avoid differences saying that there was violence, intolerance and an economic crisis in the country.
Crises to intensify
At this, Barrister Zafar maintained that these crises would intensify if the elections were delayed.
CJP Bandial then remarked that it would order the government only if PTI takes the initiative.
Moving on, Justice Khan asked if the 90-day period before the election could be shortened.
At this, Justice Ahsan remarked that the ECP was bound to give the schedule for polls within 90 days. Barrister Zafar maintained that the electoral watchdog couldn’t withdraw the order once given.
“Unfortunately, no one has any doubt that elections now can’t be held in 90 days,” remarked Justice Mandokhail. He also wondered if there was a democratic way to resolve the issue.
Polls under any circumstances
Justice Mandokhail lamented that no one cared about the Constitution in Pakistan anymore but elections must be held under any circumstances.
“The question is, who has the authority to extend the duration of 90 days and if the assembly should be dissolved at a single person’s behest,” the justice added.
PTI’s lawyer argued that the prime minister and chief minister were the elected representatives.
At this, Justice Mandokhail remarked that the assembly could be dissolved if the prime minister’s party moved a no-confidence motion against him.
However, Barrister Ali Zafar contended that the assembly couldn’t be dissolved in case of a no-confidence motion.
Justice Mandokhail observed that the Parliament should review the authority of a single person to dissolve the assembly.
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