In a much-awaited verdict, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 4 ruled that a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone polls in Punjab province to October 8 was unconstitutional.
“The law and Constitution do not give authority to ECP to delay the election date,” the court said in its judgment, adding that polls in Pakistan’s Punjab should be held on May 14.
A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan announced the verdict in a crowded courtroom with the leaders of the ruling coalition government and opposition, lawyers and journalists present.
In the written verdict, the court restored the election schedule that was issued by the ECP on March 8th, with some modifications while ordering the Federal government to release election funds worth Rs. 21 billion to the ECP by April 10th, and the ECP must file a report on whether the funds have been provided and received.
The top court also mentioned its March 1st verdict in today’s order, wherein the SC had ruled that elections in KP and Punjab should be held within 90 days.
Changes Directed by the Court
The court has revised the election program. Changes made to the plan are as follows:
- The deadline for filing appeals against the returning officer’s decision to reject/accept nomination papers is now April 10.
- The Appellate Tribunal will have until April 17 to decide on appeals.
- The revised list of candidates will be released on April 18.
- April 19 is the last day for candidates to withdraw their candidature, and a revised list of candidates will be published.
- Contesting candidates will be allotted electoral symbols on April 20.
- The polling date has been scheduled for May 14.
The Court directed the Punjab caretaker government to submit a security plan by April 10th. It also declared that the Governor of KP province no longer had representation before the court, which excluded the matter of elections in KP from being adjudicated upon.
Earlier on March 22, the ECP had announced that the elections in Punjab would take place on October 8, after initially setting a date for April 30 in consultation with the president.