The Constitution should be taken into consideration while drafting laws, the CJP tells lawmakers.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Justice Bandial extends his congratulations to the nation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Constitution.
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has urged lawmakers to create legislation that “comply with the Constitution’s standards and lead the nation towards greater peace, prosperity, and progress.”
Chief Justice Bandial expressed his greetings on the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in a letter to Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf.
He saw that by establishing social, political, and economic objectives and designating Parliament as the supreme legislative body, the Constitution plays a crucial role in determining the destiny of the nation.
Due to his judicial obligations at the court, Chief Justice Bandial expressed sadness for being unable to attend the auspicious event conducted at the National Assembly venue on April 10. He nonetheless made it a point to express his prayers and well wishes to the Parliament as they drafted legislation that adhere to the requirements of the Constitution and open the door for a more tranquil, wealthy, and forward-thinking country.
The CJP’s statement comes as the nation struggles to resolve a heated deadlock between the executive branch and the judiciary.
As it sent notifications to all political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, for the hearing on Thursday (tomorrow), the top court earlier in the day made it plain that it would not rescind its April 4 ruling.
SC declares it won’t reverse its order for the April 4 elections.
The defence ministry’s argument against the Punjab polls, which are slated for May 14, was being heard by the three-member bench.
Earlier, on April 4, a three-judge panel presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan Bandial and including Justices Munib Akhtar and Ijazul Ahsan ruled that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to delay the Punjab Assembly elections was “unconstitutional” and mandated that the province hold elections on May 14.
The same panel had on April 14 directed that a “appropriate communication” to this effect be sent to the finance minister by Monday, April 17, and that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) provide Rs21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
Notably, CJP Bandial and the other two justices of the Supreme Court who were sitting on the bench hearing the Punjab elections case had meetings with senior military officers as well.
The conversation between the judges and the military personnel went on for more than three hours in the CJP’s chamber, according to sources who spoke to The Express Tribune. They said that the intelligence officer briefed the judges on the security problems the nation is now facing.
Funds for the Punjab and K-P elections can be released “immediately and within a day.”
It should be noted that the administration received information regarding election funding on Monday from the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue.
Despite the SBP allocating funds in accordance with court rulings, the issue was ultimately referred to the federal cabinet, which then brought it to the National Assembly.
The lower house rejected the administration’s proposal on the same day to give the federal government Rs21 billion to cover uncharged expenses for the ECP during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
All eyes are on CJ Bandial to determine how he and his fellow justices will enforce adherence to the court decision to hold Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 in light of the current disagreement inside the SC and a potential confrontation with Parliament.
