ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court in Pakistan adjourned the hearing of a petition seeking to hold general elections to all the national and provincial assemblies simultaneously.
The court had given the federal coalition and the PTI until 4 pm to sit together and develop a consensus on elections, but the proceedings did not resume after the three-judge bench did not appear in the courtroom.
A lawyer representing the PPP said that dialogue had been initiated with the PTI, and the hearing had been adjourned until April 27.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the idea of talks with PTI chairman Imran Khan.
The Attorney General for Pakistan has said that the Supreme Court will be updated on the outcome of a dialogue among political parties on the date of elections at the next hearing on April 27.
The court had directed the ruling and opposition parties to immediately reach a consensus on the date of elections and update the bench by 4pm, following weeks of hearings on holding elections to the Punjab Assembly.
The PPP and PML-N had assured the court they would sit with the PTI and attempt to find a solution on the election date.
The court has ruled that a new date for the Punjab polls cannot be fixed until all political parties reach a consensus.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has chaired a meeting to discuss the Supreme Court’s offer for immediate talks on the upcoming election date.
The court had directed all political parties to sit together and reach a consensus on the date, updating the bench by 4 pm on Thursday.
The meeting, which included federal ministers and legal experts, was briefed on the ongoing under trial case in the Supreme Court.
Leaders from various political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), MQM-P, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and others appeared before the court in an effort to reach a consensus and end the dispute over the election date.
PPP and PML-N assured the court that they would sit with PTI and try to find a solution.
Supreme Court directs political parties to evolve consensus
During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked that court verdicts could create complications and urged political parties to settle the matter through mutual understanding.
He also made it clear that the date for the election in Punjab is May 14, and the court will not reconsider its decision as no one has challenged it.
The meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif is seen as a significant step towards resolving the dispute and ensuring a smooth electoral process. The issue of the election date has been a contentious one, with opposition parties accusing the ruling PTI of trying to delay the vote to remain in power.
Supreme Court directs political parties to evolve consensus on election date
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed various political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to sit together and update the court by 4 pm on a consensus regarding the election date.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, is hearing the election delay case.
During the hearing, the PPP and PML-N assured the court that they would hold talks with the PTI to try and find a solution on the election date.
The CJP suggested that elections could be held in July after Eid Ul Azha, as suggested by the JI chief. The court adjourned the hearing till 4 pm and gave time to the political leaders for consultation with their respective leadership.
The case stems from the Supreme Court’s April 4 order, which declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone elections to the Punjab Assembly till October 8 “unconstitutional” and fixed May 14 as the new date.
