SCBA rejects the Punjab elections’ postponement

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) called the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the polls in Punjab “an unequivocal violation of the Constitution.”

The SCBA President Abid S. Zuberi and Secretary Muqtedir Akthar Shabbir stressed in a statement that “under no circumstances” could the commission change the election date.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on March 1’s judgment had “inexplicably clarified” that elections were to be placed within the 90-day timeframe provided by Article 224(2) of the Constitution.

The statement continued by expressing remorse that the Election Commission had violated the Supreme Court’s order and its constitutional role so flagrantly.

In addition, it stated that neither the Election Act nor the Constitution contained provisions allowing the ECP to conduct elections outside of the 90-day window permitted by Article 224. (2).

It stated it was “very regrettable to observe that the Electoral Commission has grossly misconstrued the Constitution, the law, and the Supreme Court’s order.”

The SCBA claimed that the commission “exceeded its constitutional mandate and authority.”

In addition, the statement emphasized that the primary constitutional role of the caretaker administration was to ensure that free and transparent elections were held.

In addition, the timescale set in Article 224 (2) applied to the caretaker administration.

As a result, it continued, “the caretaker administration may not remain in office beyond the 90-day specified in Article 224.” (2).

According to the SCBA, a Constitutional violation of this size could only result in total disorder and devastation throughout the nation.

The statement added, “With the country’s current political and economic challenges, it is important that democracy be restored and elections be held on time.”

The association asserted that by publishing the March 22 notification, the ECP had permitted “chaos and uncertainty.”