The request, made by the Ministry of Defence, to hold elections on the same day across Pakistan was fixed for hearing. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court will hear the petition on Wednesday (19 April 2023) at 11:30 am. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial will head the bench, and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan & Justice Muneeb Akhtar are also part of the bench. The request is aligned with the stance of federal government to not hold elections on May 14.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Defense submitted an application to the Supreme Court, in which the Supreme Court has been requested to conduct elections simultaneously across the country. The application, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, further asked the Supreme Court to withdraw the order of holding the elections on May 14.
The Ministry of Defense has added that their reports suggest a chance of terrorists and miscreants attacks during the elections campaigns. He added that elections should be held after the National Assembly, Balochistan Assembly, and Sindh Assembly completes their tenure.
It is pertinent to mention that the Election Commission, Ministry of Finance and State Bank of Pakistan have submitted their respective reports to the Supreme Court on the issue of providing funds & security concerns for elections in Punjab. The State Bank has highlighted the reasons for not releasing the funds. Meanwhile, the report from Finance Ministry included details of the decision by the Cabinet & referring the matter to Parliament.
Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf held the provincial government in Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and dissolved both assemblies in January 2023. The Imran Khan-led PTI demanded elections in both provinces.
Earlier on April 4 2023, the Supreme Court gave the verdict that the decision by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the Punjab Assembly election was unconstitutional. The apex court declared to hold elections in Punjab by May 14.