PML-N, PPP, JUI-F decided to become parties in petition filed by PTI
ISLAMABAD
The government has demanded a full court to hear the plea against the postponement of the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking to media outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan before the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI over delay in elections, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar has appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court bench to hear petitions regarding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The government requests the present bench to form a full court to hear the plea and interpret all matters, including the powers of the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he said.
“The constitutional interpretations that affect the masses deeply should not have the decision of a person. For this reason, only a collective thought can find out a solution. It is considered to be correct,” he added.
A large five-judge SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail is hearing the petition.
He said that the ECP is performing its duty under the Article 218(3). “The ECP is not bound to any decision. It is not my duty to give a legal advice to the ECP,” he added.
Azam Nazir Tarar said three major parties of the ruling coalition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had decided to become a party in the case, adding that petitions in this regard would be submitted in the apex court.
Speaking about the detailed dissenting notes of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail in the suo motu case on Punjab election date, he said they vindicated his stance that the suo motu case was dismissed by 4-3.
He further said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not bound by any decision, adding that the institution was discharging its duty under Article 218 (3) of the Constitution. He further said it was not his job to give legal advice to the electoral body.
Azam Tarar said that the ECP was not bound by any decision. He said that he had already told that the SC judgement handed down in the March 1 suo motu regarding elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab was dismissed by a majority of 4-3.
He said that the ECP was performing its duty under Article 218(3). He said it was not his job to give legal advice to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
A day earlier, the apex court, while hearing PTI’s plea against delaying general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deferred hearing of the case till Tuesday, besides issuing notices to the ECP and federal government seeking their reply. The court also sought reply from the Punjab and KP governors by 11am on Tuesday.
