CJP urges parliament to draft laws ‘in compliance with Constitution’

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has extended his prayers and good wishes for the Parliament to draft laws that “comply with the Constitution's standards and lead the nation towards greater peace, prosperity, and progress.”

In a letter addressed to the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, Chief Justice Bandial offered his congratulations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

He acknowledged the Constitution's vital role in shaping the country's future by setting social, political, and economic goals and making Parliament the highest repository of legislative power.

Chief Justice Bandial expressed his regret at not being able to attend the auspicious occasion held at the National Assembly hall on April 10 due to his judicial commitments at the court. However, he made it a point to convey his prayers and good wishes to the Parliament in drafting laws that align with the Constitution's standards and pave the way for a more peaceful, prosperous, and progressive nation.

The message from the CJP comes at a time when the country is grappling with a tense standoff between the government and the judiciary.

Earlier in the day, the top court made it clear that the court will not backtrack from its April 4 order as it issued notices to all political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, for the hearing on Thursday (tomorrow).

Read more: SC says will not backtrack from April 4 polls order

The three-member bench was hearing the defence ministry's plea against elections in Punjab, scheduled for May 14.

Earlier, a three-judge bench — led by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan— on April 4 declared as “unconstitutional” the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections for the Punjab Assembly and ordered it to hold polls in the province on May 14.

The same bench had on April 14 ordered the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release Rs21 billion to the ECP for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by Monday (April 17).

Notably, top officials of the country’s military had also met with CJP Bandial and the other two apex court judges who were also on the bench deciding the Punjab polls issue.

Sources had revealed to The Express Tribune that the meeting between the judges and the military officials continued for over three hours in the CJP’s chamber. They said the intelligence official gave a briefing to the judges on the security issues confronting the country.

Read more: Funds for Punjab, K-P polls can be released ‘immediately and within a matter of a day’

It may be noted that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue returned matters concerning funds for elections to the government on Monday.

Funds were allocated by the SBP in compliance with court orders, only for the matter to be sent to the federal cabinet which later placed it before the National Assembly.

On the same day, the lower house rejected the government's motion to grant Rs21 billion to the federal government to meet the expenditure, other than charged, during the financial year ending June 30, 2023, in respect of the ECP.

In the backdrop of the ongoing conflict within the SC as well as a possible clash with Parliament, all eyes are on CJ Bandial as to how he, along with his like-minded judges, will ensure compliance with the judicial order to hold Punjab Assembly elections on May 14.