The nation continues to express its solidarity with Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial as it remains on tenterhooks for the crucial Supreme Court hearing on the Punjab election delay case scheduled for today.
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. As a result, the nation and political players are on tenterhooks, waiting for the court to make its next move.
Read more: Annoyed SC orders State Bank to release funds for elections
The delay in elections has divided the nation with the government and the majority of the public locking horns over the matter. The Constitution asserts that elections be held within the ninety days period and the Supreme Court has also given the date for the elections while ordering the State Bank to release the funds.
However, the federal government has refused to comply with both the Constitution and the Supreme Court directives while maintaining that the crucial decisions regarding the election, for instance, the release of funds will be made by the Parliament.
Members of the PDM coalition have also lately taken to criticize the Chief Justice of Pakistan, accusing him of interfering in political matters. Interestingly, the whole debacle on the delay of elections has resulted in PTI and its supporters expressing solidarity with the CJP.
Social media trends are also running on Twitter as PTI leaders and members of the country’s lawyer community to remain steadfast in upholding the mandate of the Constitution.
Today is once again a crucial turning point in our history – will there be Rule of Law & assertion of Constitution or will law of the jungle unleashed by the cabal of crooks & their handlers prevail? #NationStandswithCJP
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 27, 2023
پاکستان سے عوام میں مارکرنےوالے جس میزائل PDM-13 کا ناکام تجربہ پچھلے سال اپریل میں کیاگیا اس میزائل نے اپنے نشانے سے ہٹ کرپورے ملک میں مکمل معاشی، آئینی، قانونی تباہی مچاکر ملک کادیوالیہ نکال دیا، PDM-13 نامی میزائل آج سپریم کورٹ میں غیرفعال کردیاجائےگا۔ #NationStandswithCJP
— Qasim Khan Suri (@QasimKhanSuri) April 26, 2023
We stand with CJP, do you…??#NationStandswithCJP pic.twitter.com/XJvJcp3DyR
— Pak Lawyers Forum (@PLF_Officials) April 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/aliya_hamza/status/1651323623372619776?s=20
اگر آپ آئین پہ ڈٹے رہے تو یہ قوم آپ کو کبھی تنہا نہیں چھوڑے گی۔
#NationStandswithCJP pic.twitter.com/EFOSqt6q4f
— Farid Malik (@FaridMalikPK) April 27, 2023
Dear CJP,
Constitution is clear on Election timeframe. If Govt doesn't comply, there is only one decision left: "Contempt of Court" which shall lead to disqualification of the Govt. If that's not done, no one will ever respect SC! #NationStandswithCJP #الیکشن_پاکستان_کی_ضرورت— Jibran Ilyas (@agentjay2009) April 27, 2023
All eyes on the Supreme Court of Pakistan today. The people are anxiously waiting to see if their basic freedom will be upheld or trampled. #NationStandswithCJP #الیکشن_پاکستان_کی_ضرورت
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) April 27, 2023
During yesterday’s meeting of the coalition parties, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that coalition partners have unanimously decided that the elections be held in October-November across the country on the same day.
The premier reiterated that the parliament would decide about the disbursement of funds to the el election commission for conducting polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Read more: PM Shehbaz stresses parliament’s role in decision on elections
Furthermore, in a letter addressed to the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Wednesday wrote that the country’s top court must “avoid getting involved in political thicket”, as far as possible.
The speaker wrote the letter to the country’s top judge regarding the court’s encroachment upon the National Assembly’s power to approve expenditures from the Federal Consolidated Fund.