The Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken a suo motu notice of the delay in holding provincial elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, following the dissolution of their assemblies. The move comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan refused to consult with the President over the matter, who then unilaterally announced a date for the polls.
A nine-member bench has been appointed to consider the constitutional responsibilities and duties of the federal government and provinces with regard to holding the general election and is due to begin hearings on Thursday. Statements from federal ministers have contested the authority of the President to fix a date for the election.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken suo motu notice of the delay in holding provincial assembly elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following their dissolution by previous PTI governments. The court has constituted a nine-member bench to hear the case and consider questions related to the constitutional responsibilities and duties of various parties regarding the appointment of election dates.
The lack of clarity and divergent views among constitutional authorities on the issue has been noted, and the court has emphasized the importance of faithful constitutional enforcement in ensuring the fundamental right of citizens to elect representatives of their choice. The delay in holding elections and the alleged lack of support provided to the electoral watchdog have also been highlighted as concerns