The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Monday heard a plea by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the Election Commission’s decision to delay Punjab elections till October 8 after which the apex court issued notices to the commission and to the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The five-member larger bench — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Akhtar, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail — heard the case.
The apex court also sought guarantees from the government and PTI for remaining peaceful for free, fair, and transparent elections.
PTI’s lawyer Ali Zafar pointed out that the Ministry of Interior and Defence refused to provide security personnel.
Zafar said that the Constitution does not allow the postponement of elections on the basis of the administration’s non-cooperation.
“What guarantee is there that the situation will be better in October?” he questioned.
The hearing was adjourned till 11:30am tomorrow (Tuesday).
Earlier, ECP delayed Punjab elections and change the date from April 30 to October 8 after which the commission came under fire from the former ruling party.
President Arif Alvi set April 30 as the date of the election in Punjab.
Following the ECP’s announcement, KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali also urged the electoral body to also hold the general elections on the same date (October 8) as the Punjab polls given the growing security threats from terror groups operating from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions.
No live coverage of rallies in Islamabad
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday restricted live coverage of rallies and public gatherings across the federal capital on March 27, hours before PTI chairman Imran Khan was expected to appear before the Islamabad High Court.
It observed that satellite television channels run live footages/images of violent mobs, attacking on police and law enforcement agencies.
