Snap Polls
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed a review petition of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the snap polls in the Punjab province on Thursday.
The apex court upheld its earlier decision of holding early polls in Punjab after the dissolution of the provincial assembly.
However, the apex court had ordered the snap polls in Punjab in May 2023. How the ECP would comply with that order? It is yet not clear.
A three-member bench of the apex court led by chief justice Umar Ata Bandial dismissed the ECP’s review petition on Thursday morning.
Earlier,
On Thursday, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court took up for hearing a review petition from the ECP against the SC’s decision to hold snap polls in Punjab.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial led a three-member special bench. It included two other judges, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar.
The registrar of the apex court notified all respondents, including the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), regarding the case.
On April 4, the Supreme Court declared the ECP’s decision to postpone polls for the Punjab Assembly until October 8 as “unconstitutional.” The court set May 14 as the new date for the province’s polls.
The ruling stated, “We declare the order dated 22.03.2023 issued by the ECP as unconstitutional. It lacks lawful authority, jurisdiction, and is void ab-initio. The order has no legal effect and is hereby invalidated. The ECP is not empowered by the Constitution to extend the election date beyond the 90-day period.”
However, Parliament did not comply with the order for snap provincial elections, considering it a violation of both court orders and the Constitution.
At that time, Parliament had demanded a full court to hear the case.
In August, the Supreme Court emphasized that if executive authorities were unwilling to assist the commission in fulfilling its duties under Article 220 of the Constitution, the ECP should approach the top court to seek relief.
