A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial is set to resume hearing the election delay suo moto case today after political parties failed to initiate dialogue and determine a date for polls as directed by the Supreme Court.
The court had previously asked the parties to hold discussions on April 26 and provide a response by April 27 in hopes of reaching an agreement. However, since no talks took place and the government did not comply with the April 4 directive, political players and the nation eagerly await the court’s next move.
There was speculation about whether the case concerning election delays would be heard on Thursday due to CJP Bandial’s unavailability. However, this was resolved with an announcement stating that the CJP-led bench would proceed with the case as scheduled and work in chambers for the remainder of the day.
Two separate petitions were filed with the apex court on Wednesday. The PTI first seeks restraining orders against the caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The petition argues that the Supreme Court should issue appropriate orders to regulate the day-to-day operations of the two provinces since the Constitution does not authorize an extension of the interim government’s term.
The second petition, filed by Zahoor Mehdi Faisal, seeks the appointment of a caretaker prime minister and chief election commissioner to ensure transparent elections.
The petition calls for removing several key figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, PDM leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and President Dr. Arif Alvi, who are deemed as “partisans.” It further argues that the apex court should appoint an interim prime minister and a chief election commissioner to conduct free and fair by-elections on the proposed date within ten days without the assistance of the Rangers and the armed forces.
Both petitions aim to ensure compliance with the Constitution and address concerns about partisan actions influencing the electoral process. The nation now awaits the court’s decision on these matters, which will significantly impact the upcoming elections.
