The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals of dissident members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf after declaring their appeals ineffective. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial heard the appeals of the PTI dissident members of now dissolved Punjab Assembly on Wednesday. At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice of Pakistan remarked that after the dissolution of Punjab Assembly, their appeals challenging their disqualification have become ineffective. The CJP also brought the subject of elections for Punjab Assembly during the case hearing. He said that the Lahore High Court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold polls for the provincial assembly.

The top judge inquired what the ECP is doping about the elections in Punjab. The ECP DG Law told the court that the election commission held a meeting with the Punjab governor yesterday and the latter informed it that he would take a legal course against the LHC order. The CJP inquired who would take the legal course - Punjab governor or the ECP. The DG Law replied that the governor would take the legal course. CJP Bandial directed the ECP to act upon the LHC order. Justice Ayesha Malik inquired whether the constitution binds the Election Commission to seek consultation with the governor before elections.

The CJP again asserted that the ECP should comply with the LHC order and hold elections. The DG Law informed the court that the LHC in its order asked the ECP to hold consultation with the governor. The CJP then remarked, if that was so, then this order should also be complied with. Returning back to the PTI dissident members’ appeals, the lawyer said that their appeals have become ineffective after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. The court then disposed of the case after dismissing the appeals.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP