LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan on Sunday said that the judges of the apex court could not “blink” their eyes if the country’s constitution mandated elections within 90 days of an assembly’s dissolution, saying that it was their duty to say that.
Speaking at an event in Lahore, the CJP said: “When it comes to constitutional enforcement, we must not wink our eyes. If the constitution says 90 days for holding polls, then it is our responsibility to say that and not our choice, instead of finding a cause why we should sidestep saying that.”
Supreme Court and Constitution
The CJP said the SC and its judges had no existence separately but “as a unit and as a constitutional organ”. “The significant thing is when the SC speaks on merit then its judgement has moral power and authority. That becomes even more significant when those judgements are not appealed is filed then that suggests no one has any objection to the judgement of the court”.
He said that he was “hopeful” that Pakistan ’s political leaders, institutions and people were all committed to the country’s constitution.
Referring to the negotiation between the PTI and the government, the CJP said the Supreme Court was informed that they had not concluded yet.
Concluding his speech, the CJP said: “The implementation bench is always there so file a petition and let’s see what happens.”
Earlier, the Apex Court while hearing a PTI petition had asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general polls in Punjab on May 14. However, the government had rejected the SC’s orders.
Similarly, the Supreme Court on April 20 asked the country’s major political parties to develop a consensus on the date for polls to the assemblies, so they could be held simultaneously countrywide. Talks subsequently followed between the PTI and the government but remained inconclusive. The government and the PTI have since provided their reports regarding the talks to the Supreme Court.
