Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on Tuesday appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court bench to hear petitions regarding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He made the appeal while speaking to media outside the Supreme Court before the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI over delay in elections. He said three major parties of the ruling coalition PML-N, PPP and JUI-F – had decided to become a party in the case, adding that petitions in this regard would be submitted in the apex court.

Speaking about the detailed dissenting notes of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail in the suo motu case on Punjab election date, he said they vindicated his stance that the suo motu case was dismissed by 4-3. He further said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not bound by any decision, adding that the institution was discharging its duty under Article 218 (3) of the Constitution. He further said it was not his job to give legal advice to the electoral body.

A day earlier, the apex court, while hearing PTI’s plea against delaying general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deferred hearing of the case till Tuesday, besides issuing notices to the ECP and federal government seeking their reply. The court also sought reply from the Punjab and KP governors by 11am on Tuesday.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP