ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has rejected the Supreme Court’s decision on the postponement of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The court had declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to delay elections in KP and Punjab from April 30 to October 8 as “null and void.” The federal cabinet deemed the decision as a “minority verdict” and “non-implementable.”
During the federal cabinet meeting, the government decided to raise its voice in parliament and present its position on the verdict.
The cabinet also decided that the coalition parties in power would discuss the apex court’s decision in parliament.
In a plea filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Supreme Court ordered the government to release Rs. 21 billion in funds for elections in Punjab by April 10 and conduct polls on May 14. The court also ordered the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the election commission.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it would further fuel political and constitutional crises in the country.
آج کا فیصلہ اس سازش کا آخری وار ہے جس کا آغاز آئین کو re-write کر کے پنجاب حکومت پلیٹ میں رکھ بنچ کے لاڈلے عمران کو پیش کی گئی کہ لو بیٹا، توڑ دو تاکہ ہم جیسے سہولت کاروں کی موجودگی اور نگرانی میں تمھیں دوبارہ سیلیکٹ کیا جائے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
Maryam Nawaz criticizes Supreme Court’s verdict
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz heavily criticized the verdict, calling for the judges to be brought to justice.
2018 میں جو کام فیض، کھوسہ اور ثاقب نثار نے انجام دیا تھا، وہ ذمہ داری اب اس بنچ نے اٹھا لی ہے۔ اس خوفناک اور ڈھٹائی سے کی گئی سہولت کاری اور ون مین شو کے خلاف سپریم کورٹ کی اکثریت نے بغاوت کر دی۔ وقت آ گیا ہے کہ پارلیمنٹ اس سہولت کاری کو اپنے آئینی اور قانونی ہاتھوں سے روک دے۔ https://t.co/8JOoBEez66
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
She claimed that the three-member bench’s verdict was reminiscent of the 2018 verdict by former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, which Maryam claims was to make way for Imran Khan to win the polls.
وفاقی کابینہ کی جانب سے فیصلہ مسترد کر دینا کافی نہیں ہے۔ آئین اور قانون کی دھجیاں اڑا کر لاڈلے کو مسلط کرنے کی کوشش کرنے والوں کو کٹہرے میں کھڑا کرنا چاہیے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 4, 2023
The law minister raised questions over the case proceedings and the formation of the six-judge bench. He appealed to the Chief Justice to unite the house and resolve the matter.
The federal cabinet’s rejection of the Supreme Court’s verdict has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the rule of law in the country.
The decision will further deepen the political crisis in Pakistan and undermine the country’s democratic institutions.
