The Supreme Court (SC) has declared null and void the election commission’s anouncement of postponement of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to October 8.
The three-member special bench delcared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s March 22 verdict unconstitutional and illegal.
It has ruled that the Constitution and law do not allow the ECP to postpone the elections.
Altering the election schedule slightly, the Supreme Court has announced that the elections in Punjab will be held on May 14 instead of April 30.
The verdict ruled that as much as the election schedule has been complied with will be maintained.
Appeals against the nomination papers can be filed by April 10, the SC decision stated, adding the election commission’s report will be reviewed in-chamber.
The federal and provincial governments have been asked to assist the election commission, and authorities ordered to release Rs21 billion to the ECP by April 10.
The verdict further stated that election commission must submit a report regarding receiving the funds to the Supreme Court. If the funds are not received, the court will issue an order to the relevant authorities, it added.
“If there is a shortage of funds for the KP Assembly, the commission can approach the court,” the court said.
The Punjab caretaker cabinet has been ordered to submit a security plan to the election commission by April 10, the verdict added.
