SC to take Punjab polls case tomorrow

CJP-led bench to resume hearing ECP’s appeal after over two months

ISLAMABAD:

In a significant development, the apex court has scheduled the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review appeal against its decision to hold polls in Punjab on May 14 for tomorrow [Thursday].

A three-member special bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar will resume the appeal's hearing after a gap of two months and eleven days. The last hearing of the case was conducted on June 19.

On March 22, the ECP had postponed the provincial assembly election in Punjab by more than five months, citing a deteriorating security situation in the financially strained country.

However, the three-member Supreme Court bench on April 4 declared the ECP notification "unconstitutional." The bench directed the polls supervisory authority to conduct polls in the country's most populous province on May 14.

The country’s parliament later passed a resolution against the SC bench after rejecting a bill introduced by the PML-N led coalition government to allocate funds for holding the polls.

On May 3, the ECP also filed a review petition against the SC’s April 4 order, which was scheduled for a hearing before the same bench led by CJP Bandial, who is set to retire on September 16.

With just under three weeks left until his retirement, CJP Bandial continues to keep some cards close to his chest, leading to speculation about his possible attempt to provide some respite to the PTI party and its leadership.

Experts, however, believe that much depends on the support he receives from other judges, particularly when it comes to handling cases that may stir controversy within "powerful circles."

While Justice Bandial could not rescue the PTI leadership during their most challenging moments, he has managed to sustain hope for their supporters in several critical matters over the past year.