CJP seeks input from interior, defence ministries on timeframe for security situation to improve
In light of arguments made by the Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding security threats in holding timely elections, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday asked the ministries of interior and defence to provide the shortest span of time in which security situation would improve so polls could be held.The chief justice made these remarks as a five-member bench — headed by himself and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Aminuddin Khan — heard a case against ECP’s decision to postpone Punjab Assembly elections.
In a surprise move on March 22, the ECP had put off the elections — from the court-ordered April 30 to October 8 — citing the deteriorating security situation in the country and the unavailability of finances and security personnel. Subsequently, the PTI challenged the commission’s order in the SC, terming it “unconstitutional and illegal”.
The petition moved by Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar urged the apex court to set aside the March 22 notification of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for being ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘illegal’. Barrister Zafar described the ECP notification as the “9/11 of Pakistan’s Constitution” and asked the SC to order the ECP to hold elections on April 30 as announced by President Dr Arif Alvi in pursuance of the Supreme Court directive issued on March 1.
The court also issued notices to respondents namely Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governor, federal secretaries cabinet, parliamentary affairs and law and justice.
When Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Aamir Rehman sought more time so that new Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) be appointed, the CJP told him that the new AGP had already met him and may also be present in the court on Tuesday.
Informed sources later told Dawn that Mansoor Usman Awan had called on the CJP. Mr Awan had been appointed AGP before Shehzad Ata Elahi, but he opted out after his appointment notification was not issued on time.