ISLAMABAD:
The three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition challenging the delay in Punjab polls nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on Tuesday, declaring it "unconstitutional".
The apex court announced that general elections of the Punjab Assembly would be held on May 14.
The bench was headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprised Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
The court declared that the ECP's orders postponing the provincial assembly elections until October 8 was "illegal" and "unconstitutional". "The law does not permit the ECP to extend the election date," declared the court.
The government has been directed by the court to release funds of Rs21 billion for polls by April 10. The judgment also stated that the court would issue appropriate orders should the government fail to comply.
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Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Defence, as per the apex court's directives, had submitted its report through Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan detailing the availability of security personnel for election duties.
After analysing the report, the SC announced its verdict and reinstated the previous schedule with amendments.
The apex court ordered returning officers to accept nomination papers until April 10, and publish the candidates' list by April 19.
The ruling further held that free and fair elections must be ensured on the new poll date.
The bench further noted that "other issues were also raised during the proceedings" and clarified that two judges had recused themselves from hearing the case.
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