Senate passes Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023
ISLAMABAD: Senate passed the Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023 on Friday morning.
About 32 Senators supported the bill while 21 opposed it.
The Bill will enable the government and others to file a review in the court against decisions and orders of the Supreme Court.
The PDM-led government passed the bill while anticipating a contempt of court order by the three-member bench of the Supreme Court. The three-member bench headed by chief justice Umar Ata Bandial is hearing the case of delay in elections in Punjab.
The National Assembly had already passed the same bill. MNA Shaza Fatima proposed the bill on April 14.
Three-member bench of SC resumes hearing of elections case
Meanwhile, on Friday (May 5), a three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed the hearing of the delay in elections in Punjab on Friday.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandia is heading the bench, comprising Justice Ejazul Ahsan and Justice Munib.
Last month, the CJP advised the government and the political parties to sit together and develop a consensus for holding elections on the same day.
The court also gave April 27 final deadline to the government to release Rs 21 billion for elections in Punjab and KP.
The government, however, sent the matter to the National Assembly which turned down the demand of the apex court.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court pointed out that the talks between the PDM-led government and political parties were their own decision and the court did not give them any order.
“The Court appreciates the efforts of all parties to try to end the current political impasse and in particular their voluntary agreement to enter into negotiations to choose a single date for holding General Elections to the National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies,” according to the verdict of the three-member bench.
ECP challenges Supreme Court decision to hold elections
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has challenged the Supreme Court’s decision in the SC saying the judiciary cannot fix the election date.
The ECP, therefore, asked the apex court to review its decision about holding the elections on May 14 in Punjab.
The Commission also asked the Supreme Court not to intervene in the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The Commission filed a 14-page petition with the Supreme Court on Wednesday. In its petition, the ECP said the superior court should review its decision because the judiciary ‘doesn’t have the authority to give the date of elections.’
The review petition was filed shortly after PTI said that it would submit a report of the talks with the government in the Supreme Court, urging the court to implement its verdict on polls in Punjab.
More to follow……
