MM News

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution with majority vote rejecting the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding holding Punjab elections on May 14. The resolution, moved by Balochistan Awami Party lawmaker Khalid Magsi, also called for not implementing the court decision which was against the law and the Constitution.

According to multiple media reports, the resolution recalled that the National Assembly on March 28 in a resolution had called on the Supreme Court to avoid “interfering” in political matters. It also noted that multiple sections of the society had called on the apex court to form a full court bench but it was ignored and only one political party was heard in the case.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court on April 4 had annulled March 22 order of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of delaying elections in Punjab and KP, declaring it unconstitutional and without unlawful authority, and fixed May 14 as date for holding polls.

Among other things, the Apex Court had ordered federal government to provide Rs. 20 billion for elections, latest by April 10.

Also read: SC annuls ECP’s order, fixes May 14 as Punjab poll date

The resolution in the National Assembly “bound” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet to ensure that the “unconstitutional” decision was not implemented. The move has stirred up a debate among legal and political circles, with some questioning the constitutional validity of the National Assembly’s move.

The resolution reads “This house rejects the minority decision of the three-member bench and binds the prime minister and the cabinet not to implement the unconstitutional and unlawful decision.”

It says that the house considers the conduct of general elections simultaneously across the country as the solution to all the problems. It noted this is in accordance with the procedure laid down in the law and Constitution for political and economic stability.

The house expressed concern over “interference in political matters” saying the judgements of the “minority” are creating anarchy in the country and paving the way for division in the federating units.

The resolution also voiced concern over the “wrong interpretation” of Article 63-A of the Constitution and demanded the formation of a full court of the Supreme Court to review it.

The move came after opposition parties repeatedly criticized the SC verdict from day one, arguing that the Supreme Court’s verdict was passed by a minority bench, and demanding to constitute a full court bench to hear the case.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab elections have been a contentious issue since the dissolution of provincial assembly in January this year. The ruling coalition partners had not only been demanding a delay in the polls but also pressing to hold elections throughout the country on single day.