The Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended an order from the Lahore High Court (LHC) that challenged the appointment of election officers from the bureaucracy of Punjab and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to issue an election schedule.
Following the SC’s orders, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the schedule for the upcoming general elections before midnight, countering a potential delay in the elections set for February 8.
After the LHC, led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, ruled in favour of a PTI petition questioning the appointment of certain officers for the polls, the ECP moved quickly to challenge this verdict at the Supreme Court. This step was essential to avoid delaying the elections, especially considering the mandatory campaign period beginning on December 16.
The Supreme Court, led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa, heard the ECP’s petition and criticized the LHC’s hasty decision, instructing it not to proceed further on the petition filed by Umair Niazi of PTI.
Implications for the Election Schedule and Training of Officers
The Supreme Court’s order was clear in its intent to uphold the constitutional requirement of conducting elections. The apex court’s intervention followed a high-level meeting discussing the aftermath of the LHC’s verdict.
The development also involved major political parties expressing interest in the case. Despite the uncertainty caused by the LHC’s ruling, which had halted the training of officers overseeing electoral activities, the Supreme Court’s directive has set the stage for the general elections to occur as scheduled on February 8, 2024. The ECP has assured that the training will resume and the election schedule will be issued on time.
