ISLAMABAD : Finally , the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) came- up with an agreeable solution to put an end to the months long constitutional crisis in Punjab . In response to a writ petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) , seeking suspension of a Lahore High Court (LHC ) order for recounting of the votes of the Punjab assembly on July 1,2022, a larger bench of SCP headed by Chief Justice , Umar Atta Bandial , after a day- long hearing into the case announced re-election for the slot of Punjab Chief minister on July 22, 2022. Other judges of the bench that heard the case for hours on Friday included Justice , Ejaz Ul Ahsin and Justice Mandukhel .
The apex court made two breaks to listen to the parties directly and take a final decision that could be acceptable to all the stakeholders . The court suspended the hearing in the case first from 1.30 pm to 3.45 pm and reassembled at declared time . On the outset of the second session of the hearing , the bench heard Chaudhary Perez Elahi , who is a joint candidate of PTI and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) for the chief minister office and soon after hearing his point of view through video link from Lahore took a break in hearing for around one hour and summoned him and chief minister Punjab , Hamza Shahbaz Sharif to appear before the bench at Lahore Supreme Court registry for hearing their point of view on the case . After the break Chaudhary Pervez Elahi and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif appeared before the bench and after putting forward different proposals finally agreed to a proposal to go for re – election for the office of the Chief Minister Punjab on July 22, 2022.
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The PTI wanted to gain some time and it wanted to have re – election for the office of chief minister Punjab and it got this relief through the SCP on Friday. It seems PTI wants to contest the election for the Punjab chief minister slot after by polls on 20 seats in the province . It expects to win majority seats in Punjab by polls scheduled for July 17, 2022 . The by polls in 20 constituencies that fell vacant due to defection of PTI members Punjab assembly in last election of chief minister Punjab held on April 10, 2022.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and its allies in Punjab are ready to go for re – poll no matter it falls in the first week of July or afterward .
Although Babar Awan advocate opposed to the proposal accepted by Chaudhary Pervez Elahi to go for re-poll for the office of the chief minister Punjab ,however , PTI not only appreciated the SCP decision of announcing re-poll for top slot of Punjab, but also claimed that the decision its position. The PTI leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhary held talk with media persons after the decision of the SCP. They said Friday’s decision of the apex court vindicated PTI position that Hamza Sharif was not a lawful chief executive of the Punjab .
Chief minister Punjab , Hamza Shahbaz, told the media persons outside Lahore Supreme Court registry that he was ready for re -election of the chief minister as he enjoys number game to win the election again. He said PML-Q and PTI differed in the court over date of the re – election for top slot of Punjab. Hamza seemed more confident in and outside the court on Friday. He also said the by – elections scheduled for 20 constituencies in Punjab for July 17, 2022 would be free and transparent .
Chaudhary Pervez Elahi also showed firm confidence in his political position and took the challenge of re – election for top slot of Punjab with open heart. Talking to the reporters outside Lahore Supreme Court registry after the hearing in the case , PML -Q president , Chaudhary Pervez Elahi , said today’s decision of the top court was win of the law and constitution.