Political parties from across the spectrum are reacting to Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections suo moto case.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry welcomed the verdict, saying, “It’s a victory for the Constitution”.
The Supreme Court, the PTI leader added, has bound the federation to provide all sorts of support with security and provision of funds for carrying out polls.
When asked whether elections will happen on April 9, as earlier suggested by President Arif Alvi, he responded by saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) proposed in court that the commission can make the elections possible on April 25.
He also said that if the government doesn’t agree to the SC’s verdict, the top court will send the government home under Article 187.
He also added that all five judges endorsed the principle of the election within 90 days. During a media talk, the PTI leader stressed that “Election is the foundation of the state.”
On the other hand, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid congratulated the nation on the verdict and asked the country to “prepare for the elections”.
He hoped that PTI is going to form governments in KP and Punjab
From the government side, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that there is no need to review the decision of the Supreme Court’s verdict, nor is it a matter that requires interpretation.
He said that petitions are still being heard in High Courts, and the interpretation of the decision can also be seen there.
He also stressed that the verdict is quite clear. However, the law minister took a jibe at President Alvi, saying that he breached the constitution by giving a date for the elections in both provinces.
Earlier today (Wednesday), the top court directed all relevant authorities to hold elections within 90 days.
The decision was passed three-two in favour of the verdict by the five-member bench, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail giving dissenting notes.
