The Supreme Court of Pakistan has mandated that elections be held within the next 90 days in Punjab and K-P.
After two days of deliberation, the Supreme Court issued a divided suo motu notice, 3-2, over the Punjab and K-P elections problem.
ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) must take place within the next ninety days because “democracy cannot exist without assemblies.”
The court also decided that Punjab would be subject to President Arif Alvi’s directives, while K-P would not.
The court ordered that the governor must declare the election date if the legislature is dissolved.
The president and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) must announce Punjab elections following consultation, the top court ruled simultaneously.
“The general election to the Punjab Assembly ought to be held on the date indicated by the president in accordance with his order of 20.02.2023,” the verdict stated.
The court ordered the ECP to propose a date that is as close as possible to the one proposed by the president, saying, “However, we are informed that on account of the delay in the emergence of the date for the holding of the general election, it may not be possible to meet the 90-day deadline stipulated by the constitution.”
“The president shall declare a date for the holding of the general election to the Punjab Assembly after consulting with the ECP.”
Similar to this, the court mandated that the K-P governor declare the election date following consultation with the ECP.
