Supreme Court disposes of plea seeking same-day elections

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday disposed of the plea seeking same-day elections on the grounds of withdrawal, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, heard the case.

Shah Khawar Advocate appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner Sardar Kashif and told the court that he wanted to withdraw the petition.

“At that time, an effort was made to create a consensus regarding the elections,” Shah Khawar Advocate said.

“Now the court is hearing the case regarding the elections across the country,” he added.

“I don’t understand, what are you talking about?” the CJP questioned Shah Khawar.

“At that time, the Supreme Court had issued an order to hold elections in Punjab on May 14,” Shah Khawar told the court.

“Then we filed a petition to hold elections across the country on the same day,” he added.

“That’s what the problem is. Was any order of the court issued at that time? If there is a difference of opinion on a case, an order of the court is issued,” the CJP said.

“There was no such order of the court,” Shah Khawar told the court.

“You should have filed a petition over the violation of the order of the Supreme Court,” Justice Athar Minallah said to the lawyer.

“Did you not try to violate the Constitution by filing this petition?” he added.

“Does the court have the authority to issue such a verdict?” the CJP questioned.

“This petition is no longer needed. The court has already taken up this matter,” Shah Khawar Advocate said.

“Why did you continue supporting those who delayed elections?” Justice Athar Minallah questioned the lawyer.

“Can we legally do what you are asking for in the petition?” the CJP also asked a question from Shah Khawar Advocate.

“We think that this plea is no longer needed,” Shah Khawar Advocate told the court.

“If such a situation arises again tomorrow, what will you do?” the CJP put another question to the lawyer.

“Is it not better to decide this matter once and for all?” he added.

“You should say that whoever is violating the Constitution should be punished,” Justice Athar Minallah remarked while talking to the lawyer.

“I absolutely say he should be punished,” Shah Khawar Advocate said.

 

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori