Punjab polls hearing put off at SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday took up a review petition filed by the Election Commission regarding the April 4 order of the court to hold election in Punjab on May 14 and adjourned the matter for a week. 

A three-member bench heard the review appeal while Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) launched a protest outside the court against the judiciary for allegedly favouring PTI chief Imran Khan.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that the electoral watchdog had raised the issue of funds and security previously.

“Today, the ECP has raised a question [mark] regarding the court’s jurisdiction,” he said.

“We will hear all the parties in the case,” the CJP said.

PTI lawyer Ali Zafar contended before the court that the scope of a review petition was limited. “New points can’t be raised in a review petition,” he said, calling on the government to issue directives for the implementation of the court order.

The CJP then said that the court wanted to hear the ECP’s arguments on the maintainability of the petition. He said that notices would also be issued to the provincial governments to hear their respective positions and other political parties.

“The order issued by the government is final,” he said.

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