The Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has urged the PDM coalition government and its opponent PTI to sit together for talks on elections for the sake of the Constitution.
The remarks were made during the crucial Supreme Court hearing on the Punjab and KP election delay case which was scheduled for today. A three-member SC bench, headed by the CJP and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar, took up the elections delay the case.
Political parties have failed to initiate a dialogue to decide on a date for polls, despite being directed by the Supreme Court. At the last hearing, the court had asked political parties to hold talks on April 26 and come up with a response by April 27 after giving stakeholders a chance to reach an agreement. However, no talks were held and the government also refused to comply with the April 4 directive.
Read more: Nation’s solidarity with CJP ahead of crucial hearing on polls delay case
The deadlock between PTI and the government has become a major hurdle in the elections. During today’s hearing, CJP Bandial urged the political parties to sit together for talks on elections for the sake of the Constitution.
“Please for the sake of the Constitution sit with each other,” remarked CJP Bandial while wrapping up the election delay case’s hearing for today.
While wrapping up the hearing for today, CJP Bandial remarked that the court will not issue any directives nor will it issue a timeline for the talks. However, he added that the court will issue an appropriate order.
خدا کے واسطے آئین کے لئے اکٹھے بیٹھ جائیں، ہم اس کے بعد ایک آرڈر جاری کریں گے،چیف جسٹس عمر عطا بندیال۔۔!!!
— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) April 27, 2023
اٹارنی جنرل آپ یہ ذہن میں رکھیں کہ ایک تاریخ جو ہم نے دی ہے، اس پر ایک پارٹی کے علاوہ سب متفق ہیں،مذاکرات کرانا آپ کا کام ہے،ہم اس پر کوئی وضاحت نہیں چاہتے، ہم یہاں پر اس لئے ہیں کہ آپ ہمیں اس کا حل نکال کر بتائیں، چیف جسٹس عمر عطا بندیال
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) April 27, 2023
On the other hand, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi came on the rostrum and told the court that there was “no consensus” within the PDM on talks. He added that his party took the court’s order seriously while the government was “trying to violate the Constitution”.
“The court provided an opportunity to the political parties for the sake of national interest. [However] PTI has not been contacted [as of yet],” said Qureshi.
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