ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday resumed hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to delay the Punjab Assembly elections by more than five months.
A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprised of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Aminuddin Khan, is hearing the case.
In a surprise move on March 22, the ECP announced to hold Punjab Assembly polls on October 8, citing the country’s deteriorating security situation and the unavailability of finances and security personnel. Subsequently, the PTI challenged the ECP’s order in the SC, terming it “unconstitutional and illegal”.
ECP has no right to extend election date: CJP
During the hearing yesterday, CJP Bandial observed that the ECP did not have any right or legal backing to extend the election date till October 8 and directed the Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) to get instructions from the federal government in this regard.
The top court is likely to conclude the hearing today and come up with a final judgement.
