Plea challenges caretaker govt’s neutrality

A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) for declaration of any actions taken by the caretaker Punjab government beyond May 14, 2023 illegal, void and hold no sanctity in the eyes of the law.

The petitioner, Aftab Ahmad Bajwa, has requested the court to direct the Pakistan Election Commission chairman to appoint a new caretaker government or revert to the previous elected government.

During the proceedings, the incumbent Punjab caretaker government should be restrained from taking any permanent action that breaches their constitutional mandate and Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The primary purpose of the caretaker government, as mandated by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, and the Elections Act, 2017, is to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

During the interregnum period, from the dissolution of the assembly until fresh elections, the caretaker government is empowered only to attend to day-to-day matters necessary to run the government for a limited period of ninety days, within which elections must be conducted.

However, regardless of whether elections have been held, the caretaker government automatically loses its legality and constitutionality once the stipulated ninety days elapse.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2023.