Imran welcomes SC verdict as ECP decision declared 'unconstitutional'
Pakistan
Imran asks nation to gear up for Punjab Assembly elections
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – In connection with the Supreme Court’s (SC) declaration that the elections in Punjab will now be held on May 14, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan welcomed on Tuesday the verdict.
Sources privy to the development said PTI stalwart Fawad Chaudhry had contacted the deposed premier after the apex court announced the verdict. Mr Chaudhry briefed Mr Khan over the matter. Commending the SC’s decision, Mr Khan said, "The apex court had protected the constitution."
Asking the nation to gear up for the Punjab Assembly elections, Mr Khan made it clear that his party was standing by the court’s decision.
As per the sources, Mr Khan was likely to address the nation tonight.
Earlier today, the SC declared the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding delay in elections in Punjab null and void, ordering polls on May 14.
Apex court's three-member bench, headed by Chief Justiece Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, issued the unanimous verdict reserved on Monday after hearing arguments from parties concerned. It also ruled that the ECP carried out an unconstitutional act by delaying the polls.
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Imran Khan-led party had filed the petition regarding delay in elections after the ECP on March 22 put off the polls till Oct 8, citing finacial and security constraints.
It said the schedule for polls in Punjab had been revised as the ECP order caused delay in the process. The bench also ordered the election commission to issue a schedule for polls in KP.
The apex court has ordered the government to provide Rs21 billion funds till April 10, directing the ECP to approach it if the resources are not provided to it by the government. It also directed the caretaker Punjab government to play its constitutional role, besides ordering the chief secretary to finalise a security plan for elections till April 10. The CJP Bandial-led bench also ordered the government to ensure the provision of security for elections.
