Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Umar Ata Bandial, has stressed the judiciary’s responsibility to ensure elections are held within 90 days of the legislature’s dissolution, as stipulated by the Constitution. This statement comes amid a dispute between the judiciary and the executive over the timely organizing elections for the Punjab Assembly.
Justice Bandial attended an event in Lahore, which focused on minority rights and paid tribute to former chief judge Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius. This Christian minority member served as the country’s chief justice from 1960 to 1968. During the event, the Chief Justice emphasized that the courts could not remain neutral in matters concerning constitutional enforcement.
The ongoing clash between the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government and a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Bandial over the issue of holding Punjab elections within 90 days was the backdrop for these statements. The judiciary’s intervention became crucial as the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party failed to agree on the election date.
Read: PTI Requests Supreme Court to Uphold Punjab Election Date Amid Negotiation Deadlock
On Friday, during the final hearing of the case, Chief Justice Bandial clarified that if negotiations between the government and PTI remained unsuccessful, the Supreme Court would enforce its decision to hold elections in Punjab on May 14, as dictated by the Constitution.
In response to the Chief Justice’s statements, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced that his party would hold daily rallies leading up to the May 14 election, starting the following week. Imran urged his party members to stand with the Constitution and against the “mafia” pressuring judges and spreading propaganda against the chief justice and other judges.
Chief Justice Bandial called for support directed towards individuals defending the law and the Constitution rather than the Supreme Court as an institution. He reiterated that the court’s primary duty is to defend the Constitution, and its decisions are final if they remain unchallenged.
Read: ECP Petitions Supreme Court to Review Punjab Election Date Directive
He also emphasized the need for the Constitution to be implemented in both letter and spirit, stating that no excuses should be made. The Chief Justice added that the country’s leaders, institutions, and people are committed to upholding the Constitution and mentioned that political leaders were holding discussions to break the deadlock over conducting elections on the same day.
Despite five sessions of formal and informal negotiations between the government and the PTI, the two sides could not agree on a date for the elections, leading them to submit separate reports to the Supreme Court. This deadlock prompted the Chief Justice to take a firm stand on the constitutional requirement of holding elections within 90 days of the legislature’s dissolution.
