The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold an emergency meeting today at 11 am to discuss the Supreme Court ruling that declared its order to postpone elections in Punjab as “unconstitutional.”
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja will chair the meeting at the ECP Secretariat.
A senior official of the electoral body said that the commission will examine the SC order from different angles and determine its plan of action based on the court’s directions and proposals.
Also, The meeting will discuss the election schedule for the Punjab Assembly’s general election.
Earlier,
Supreme Court Orders To Hold Polls In Punjab On May 14, Rejects Election Commission‘s Decision.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial announced the reserved verdict on the delayed elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The Chief Justice declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to delay elections in the provinces as unlawful.
The ECP had postponed polls in Punjab and KP on March 22, citing different reasons, and had set October 8 as the new date.
However, the Chief Justice restored President Dr. Alvi’s schedule of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stated that the constitution does not allow the ECP to delay elections.
The Court also directed the federal government to provide 21 billion rupees to the ECP by April 10.
The three-member bench disregarded the dissenting notes of other judges of the Supreme Court who left the bench one after the other.
The nine-member bench of the SC ended with a three-member bench that announced the decision.
The Court ordered to ensure fair and free elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With regards to KP, the Court noted that no one represented the Governor of KP in court and the hearing of the case of KP will continue.
Earlier, the Secretary of Defence submitted the classified security situation report to the Supreme Court before the announcement of the reserved verdict.
Also, The judges of the three-member bench can read the report to assess the security threats and reasons for the non-availability of the army for polls.
