Last Update: April 20, 2023, 4:04 PM IST
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the directions after the top court heard a plea seeking simultaneous holding of general elections to all national and provincial assemblies in the country. (File photo/Reuters)
On 4 April, the court fixed 14 May as the new date for the election to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, as it set aside the decision of Pakistan’s election watchdog to extend the election date from 10 April to 8 October.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Federal Alliance and Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to sit together and arrive at a consensus on elections in the country by 4 pm. However, the court also said that it would not go back on its order fixing May 14 as the date for the elections to the Punjab Assembly.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the directions after the top court heard a plea seeking simultaneous holding of general elections to all national and provincial assemblies in the country.
During the last hearing, the court had issued notices to PTI, PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, MQM-P, BNP-Mengal, Awami National Party, Balochistan Awami Party, PML-Q, Law Secretary, Election Commission. of Pakistan (ECP), Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan and Jamaat-e-Islami to send their senior functionaries for today’s proceedings.
On Wednesday, the court heard similar petitions by the Ministry of Defense and a citizen seeking simultaneous elections to all the Assemblies. However, it termed the ministry’s plea as unacceptable.
The proceedings of the court will start at 4 pm.
On 4 April, the court fixed 14 May as the new date for the elections to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, as it set aside the decision of Pakistan’s election watchdog to extend the election date from 10 April to 8 October.
The development came a day after the apex court declared the ECP’s earlier decision to postpone elections in Punjab as unconstitutional, a major setback for the federal government which has been trying to delay the polls citing security issues and economic crisis. Has been
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