ISLAMABAD: April 27, 2023: A Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Atta Bandial, on Thursday asked the political parties to find out some solution to present crisis through negotiations as this court could neither force any party to the matter including the government for having negotiations nor set any deadline to find a solution to the matter before it.
CJP , Umar Atta Bandial , made these remarks during the hearing of the case regarding delay in general elections in the Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK).
On its last hearing SCP had set a deadline of April 26 for holding negotiations on the issue of polls date and come to the court with their final findings on April 27. The court had also ordered to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to release Rs 21 billion for the elections in the Punjab it ordered to hold on May 14, 2023.
The government had taken serious notice of CJP remarks and flatly refused to issue the fund required to hold elections in the Punjab on schedule given by the apex court . The government rather opened up a new front against the apex court and passed a number of resolutions to turn down the court order of April 4, last calling it interference in the jurisdiction of the executive.
The apex court observed that it only want implementation of the constitution and nothing any else.
On the outset of the beginning of the proceedings, chief justice asked from the counsels of the parties as to what progress has been made on having negotiations among the political parties to find some solution to the matter.
Upon that the court was informed that the political parties were making efforts to find negotiated solution to the issue and their leadership has formed committees for negotiations.
The court was further informed that the government has approached to the chairman Senate, Sadiq Sinjrani , to arrange meetings between the government and opposition parties . The chief justice inquired as if chairman Senate has any role in the negotiations since he neither represents the government nor the opposition. At this chief justice remarked that it appears that the government was just play a pass-pass game . He observed that the government should take the lead and play a role itself to find a negotiated solution to the problem.
Chief Justice asked PPP counsel, Farooq H Niak to give his arguments on the case. Farooq H Niak in his arguments pleaded that the Senate was a forum where all parties have their representation and for it the government has approached to the chairman sentate to facilitate the negotiations on the issue of polls dates. He added that the role of the chairman Senate is of a facilitator only.
Later, the court adjourned the case without issuing any order.
