With the ECP ruling nullified and the Punjab elections set for May 14, the SC preserves its writ.
Elections in Punjab will now go place on May 14 after the Pakistani Supreme Court on Tuesday pronounced the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order delaying those elections invalid.
After hearing arguments from the parties involved, the three-member bench of the Supreme Court, which is led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and also includes Justices Munib Akhtar and Ijazul Ahsan, declared the unanimous ruling reserved. Also, it was decided that the ECP’s postponing of the elections constituted an unlawful conduct.
As the ECP on March 22 postponed the elections to Oct. 8, citing budgetary and security concerns, the Imran Khan-led party filed the plea against the postponement in elections.
It said that due to delays brought on by the ECP ruling, the Punjab election schedule had been changed. The election commission was also tasked by the bench with releasing a polling schedule for KP.
Key Points
- ECP’s March 22 order declared null and void
- Elections in Punjab to be held on May 14
- SC orders govt to provide Rs21 billion funds for elections
The government has until April 10 to comply with the apex court’s directive to pay Rs21 billion in funding; otherwise, the ECP must go to court. In addition to directing the chief secretary to complete an election security plan by April 10, it also instructed the interim Punjab administration to fulfil its constitutional obligations. The government was also given a directive by the CJP Bandial-led bench to guarantee the provision of security for elections.
Revised Election Schedule:
According to the court’s new schedule, nomination papers may be submitted up until April 10, while the deadline for filing appeals has been set at April 17. The final list of candidates will be released on April 19, and contenders will have until April 18 to submit review petitions on appeals. On April 20, the ECP will distribute electoral symbols.
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