pakistan
SC expresses anger as 90-day time for elections in Punjab, KP running out
The Supreme Court has remarked it is unable to understand what is being done by the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhunkhwas as the 90-day time period is running out.
In January, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissolved the two provincial assemblies and the ECP, as per the Election Act 2017 and Constitution, is supposed to hold elections within 90 days of the dissolution. But uncertainty continues to hang on elections as the ECP and governors of the provinces are not announcing a date for elections. Several cases are being heard by the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the top court against the ECP for not announcing a schedule for elections in the provinces.
During the hearing of a case regarding transfer of Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, Justice Munib Akhtar said the sole responsibility of the ECP was to hold elections but it was seeking more time to perform its duty.
At one point, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association pleaded the top court to issue an order on its petition seeking intervention for the electoral schedule. However, Justice Ijazul Ahsan rejected the request, saying a two-member bench had already sent the matter to Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. He added that it was the prerogative of the chief justice to form a bench to hear the case.
A day earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had told the top court that he was being prevented from exercising his powers and fulfilling constitutional requirements for holding transparent elections. He also explained the impediments to holding elections when Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that elections, as per the Constitution, should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.
Read More: LHC moved to seek order for president to announce Punjab election date
Justice Ahsan remarked it was a violation of the Constitution if elections were not held in 90 days, adding that the ECP was responsible for holding transparent elections.
The chief election commissioner lamented that the army had excused itself from providing security while judiciary was not ready to provide returning officers (ROs). “When funds were sought for elections, we were declined,” he said. Mr Raja also highlighted that it would be a violation of the Constitution if election date was announced by the ECP chief.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad has discharged 32 individuals arrested in connection with the PTI protests, clearing them of the charges.
The 32 accused were brought before the ATC Islamabad late at night after being sent for an identification parade.
The case was heard by ATC Judge Abulhasnat Zulqarnain, with the accused represented by their lawyer Ansar Kiani.
Although the police had claimed that the arrests were made at the I-9 and Margalla police stations, the accused were brought to the court from Jhelum Jail, which led to the judge expressing displeasure.
During the proceedings, the police argued that the accused were arrested on November 25 and the identification parade had not yet been conducted. The police requested a 30-day physical remand for each of the accused.
However, the defense lawyer opposed the request, stating that there had been no identification parade and the police were seeking remand for recovery purposes.
The lawyer further claimed that the police had picked up laborers from their homes just to meet arrest quotas, involving them in the protest case.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Abulhasnat Zulqarnain ordered the release of the 32 accused by discharging them from the case, removing their handcuffs in the courtroom.
He also warned that if the police re-arrested them, the officers would be handcuffed as well.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Saturday extended bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser in a case pertaining to vandalism in Sangjani public gathering held by his party on Sept 28.
Justice Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain of the ATC conducted hearing of the case against the former NA speaker.
The petitioner’s lawyer requested exemptionof her client from appearance, citing terminal illness.
The lawyer also attached medical certificate of the former NA speaker.
Later, the court accepted the plea of Qaiser by extending his bail till Jan 7.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif claimed on Saturday that “secret meetings” were being held in the President House to oust Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and bring Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the new PM.
In a statement, the adviser said both father and son (President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal) were making all the necessary efforts for premiership of the latter, adding that the president was on a secret mission to see his son as the PM.
“Zardari should make his son the PM through fair means instead of stealing the mandate given by the people to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Both Sharifs and Zardaris are enjoying the power through a stolen mandate,” he added.
He reiterated that Zardari should keep it in mind that the PTI would continue its struggle to restore its mandate.
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