1st March judgement was signed by all five judges Justice Munib.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday isAsued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the federation regarding the delay in the elecAtions of the Punjab AsAsembly and questioned under which law the ECP could announce the date.

A five-member bench of the apex court headAed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, and JusAtice Jamal Khan ManAdokhail conducted hearing of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition to set aside the ECP order dated 22-03-23 to delay the Punjab elections.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice quesAtioned that if the ECP could set aside the poll date given by the presAident, noting that there was no past order from the SC regarding the matter.

'We have several exAamples in our history where the date for elecAtions has been extendAed,' he pointed out, reAcalling that elections were also delayed afAter the death of Benazir Bhutto and the decision was accepted on a naAtional level. 'Elections were also delayed in 1988 when the system of government changed,' he said, adding that no one had challenged the matter of extending the date for polls so far. The CJP said the Commission is body to hold elections in free and fair manner, but here they may have gone a little off track, but it can be brought back.' He further stated that 'Article 254 of the Constitution could not condone the wrongdoing which is referred by the ECP'.

Justice Munib said that the ECP's decision has become 'an obstruction in the orders of the SC'. 'Only the Supreme Court can decide better whether the orders were violated or not,' he observed. Chief Justice Bandial said that the court needed assurAance that the elections are held in conducive and transparent manner. He noted that the poAlitical situation in the country is very tense and has become intolAerant and toxic. There is animosAity, hostility and the bitterness among the political parties. He asked all the political parties to give assurance to holding free and fair elections, adding that 'political parties should restore calm and peace.' 'We cannot inAterpret the Constitution in a vacAuum,' remarked the CJP.

CJP Bandial stated that elecAtions are important for democAracy but these can be held in conducive environment. The chief justice also noted that 'there is a viewpoint that elecAtions should be held in the...