ISLAMABAD: With continuing uncertainty over Punjab Assembly’s future in spite of Supreme Court orders declaring elections to be held on May 14, the three-member bench led by the Chief Justice is to resume hearing the case today (Thursday) at 11:30am.
Adopting a carrot and stick policy, the SC had asked all political parties to evolve a consensus on the date for holding simultaneous general elections of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies expeditiously; otherwise, the court had noted, its order regarding the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 would come into force.
The three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, had sought a progress report on April 27, as the court was informed that the political leaders were set to meet on April 26 — just a day before the deadline expired — to deliberate on the matter.
At a time when the country was going through political and legal impasse, the political parties did not show any urgency and sought a recess on account of Eidul Fitr holidays on the last date of hearing, which was granted by the apex court.
Eventually, no meeting took place between the government and PTI during the Eid holidays.
Yesterday, addressing separate huddles of the parties in the ruling coalition, PML-N parliamentary party and cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said elections were an issue that needed to be decided in parliament and the appropriate time to conduct them was either in October or November.
Furthermore, the PML-N has thrown the ball in JUI-F’s court regarding negotiations with the PTI, saying talks would be held at the parliament level and that they would be initiated after a decision by Maulana Fazl’s party.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday clarified that talks were not being held with the opposition at present.
