ISLAMABAD: The decision of Supreme Court to hold Punjab elections on May 14 has created chaos among the members of federal government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and affiliated parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement used the floor of National Assembly to express their disagreement with the decision of apex court. The members called the decision a ‘murder of justice’.
While speaking during the session of National Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attributed the verdict of Supreme Court to the death sentence of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Shehbaz said that April 4, 1979, was the date of judicial murder of former PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and an unfortunate decision has been issued on the same date.
Leader of Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam, Asad Mehmood, said that the decision of Supreme Court was illegitimate & un-Islamic and they would not let it implement in the country. Similarly, dissident of PTI Raja Riaz said that April 4 became another black day in the history of Pakistan. Raja added that one ladla had been rewarded instead of considering all political forces.
MQM leader Salahuddin criticised the establishment. He stated that the judiciary has continued to release wrong decisions while the military establishment acts as a neutral force.
SUPREME COURT DECISION OF APRIL 4, 2023
On Tuesday, April 4, the Supreme Court of Pakistan turned down the verdict of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone elections in Punjab and directed to hold elections on May 14. The development came as a blow to federal government, which wanted to delay the polls.
Earlier, on March 22, the ECP said immediate elections were not possible due to the current security and financial situation of the country. The electoral watchdog wanted to delay the elections by five months.
Three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, made the decision. Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz-Ul-Ahsan were also part of the bench.
