ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted a revised petition to the Supreme Court concerning the issue of holding elections within 90 days.
The petition emphasizes that elections should take place within 90 days following the dissolution of the assembly as per Article 224-ii. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision on May 14, elections have not been conducted in Punjab. Furthermore, the plea notes that the governor has not yet announced an election date for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI’s petition also underscores the importance of conducting elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa based on the 2017 population census. It asserts that the President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, is obligated to set the election date.
In accordance with the Supreme Court judgment and the Constitution, elections should be held by November 07, 2023, with the President suggesting November 06 as the date for polls.
The President invited the Election Commission for consultation on August 23, but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declined, arguing that the announcement of the election date falls within the Election Commission’s mandate.
The PTI’s petition further contends that the amendment in Section 57 of the Election Act has violated several articles of the Constitution, including Articles 48, 58, 105, 112, and 224.
The Council of Common Interest (CCI) approved the new population census on August 05, but the PTI asserts that the composition of the CCI was incorrect, as it included two unelected chief ministers.
The petitioner insists that the Constitution mandates elections within 90 days and calls upon the Supreme Court to establish the dates for national and provincial assembly elections. The petition ultimately seeks the court’s order for the election commission to issue an election schedule within the stipulated timeframe.
