ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) filed a review petition in opposition to the Supreme Court’s (SC) month-old ruling setting the date of the Punjab elections for May 14.
The electoral watchdog argued in the petition that, in accordance with section 58 of the Elections Act of 2017, the sole authority for altering the election schedule belonged to the ECP.
The electoral watchdog argued in its argument that the court could not have fixed an election date in accordance with the Constitution or the law.
“Appointing of date or changing it, is an executive exercise, and certainly not a judicial exercise,” the commission continued.
Govt, PTI to hold final round of negotiations today
Given the tight deadline for the elections, the petition continued, “The ECP appears to have no choice but to accept as fate accompli a security plan that may be compromising the integrity, honesty, and fairness of the elections.”
The electoral watchdog also emphasised a “strong and empowered commission” in its plea.
The supreme court “should have exercised judicial restraint and could have assigned responsibility to the Commission,” the ECP further said.
Additionally, it noted that the SC “has actually divested the powers” in its order from April 4
The ECP argued that the Hon’ble Court should closely examine the ground realities rather than use article 254 of the Constitution to stifle the constitutional requirement to hold elections within 90 days.
Additionally, the electoral watchdog asked the supreme court to “accept the instant Review Petition by revisiting, reviewing, reconsidering, and recalling its April 4 order.”
Read more CJP requests parliamentary record of SC bill debate
The SC’s ruling last month that the ECP’s decision to postpone elections in Punjab was “unconstitutional” was a setback for the Punjabi administration, which had been trying to put off the province poll by blaming security concerns and the economic crisis.
The three-person court, presided over by Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial,
The ECP argued that the Hon’ble Court should carefully consider the actual realities and that “it is not suggested that article 254 of the Constitution should be used to stifle the constitutional imperative of holding elections within 90 days.”
Imran has pushed for early elections ever since he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament last April. The ruling coalition’s desire for elections to be held all at once later this year has been rejected by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The dialogue froze.
The ECP’s action comes at a critical moment as negotiations between the ruling coalition and the PTI to set the election date have stalled.
Imran issues a street protest warning.
There is a, as confirmed by the leaders of both parties.
The ECP argued that the Hon’ble Court should carefully consider the actual realities and that “it is not suggested that article 254 of the Constitution should be used to stifle the constitutional imperative of holding elections within 90 days.”
The dialogue froze.
The Supreme Court intervened in the election dispute when the ECP changed the election schedule for Punjab from April 30 to October 8 and the PTI leaders and government officials sat across from each other at the table.
Later, the top court suggested that the political parties agree on the dates and procedures for holding elections throughout the nation.
