Govt must send presidential reference to SC for full bench's interpretation of Article 63-A: PDM.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) - a multi-party alliance with representation of ruling PML-N - on Thursday recommended to the government to send a presidential reference to the Supreme Court seeking its interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution by a full-court bench for 'a way out of the prevailing constitutional and political crisis.'

Announcing key decisions taken by the PDM following a meeting today, alliance chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said the meeting decided that the recent interpretation of the Article 63-A by a three-member bench of the apex court while ruling on Punjab chief minister's election had fuelled reservations and triggered a constitutional crisis.

'The political parties have expressed reservations on the observation of three judges of the top court [on Punjab chief minister election] which complicated the matter,' he said.

He said that sending a reference to the apex court was now essential in view of widespread differences of opinion among different circles as well as legal experts, media and the civil society.

Fazl also said it was unanimously agreed that the government would complete its term and the elections would be 'held on time'.

'Under the resolution, it is also our demand that the ECP must immediately announce its verdict in the foreign funding case, which has been lingering for eight years,' he told journalists.

The PDM chief said the ECP must fulfill its legal, constitutional responsibility without any delay, adding that the electoral watchdog was currently 'under a cover of mysterious silence'.

He claimed that ample evidence was available against the PTI, saying the law must take its course and a verdict must be delivered at the earliest.

He...