By Iftikhar Mashwani
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered to hold election in KPK and Punjab within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies,while in a historic decision on Wednesday.
Headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial a five members bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail announced the decision on the suo motu notice with 3-2. Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhel wrote dissenting notes as they raised objections over admissibility of the case.
Previously, the case was being heard by the nine-member bench but it split on Monday into a five-judge bench after four judges – Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah – recused themselves from hearing the case.
The assemblies were dissolved by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in January to seek fresh elections in the provinces. After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and governors of both provinces failed to give a date for the elections, President Arif Alvi announced that elections would be held in Punjab and KP on April 9.
The apex court has declared the president’s move to announce date for elections in KP null and void, saying the provincial assembly was dissolved by Governor Ghulam Ali Khan and he was responsible for giving the date. However, the top court upheld the president’s notification for elections in Punjab as the provincial assembly dissolved there without the consent of the governor.
