Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan has fixed the case of elections in Punjab for hearing tomorrow (Thursday).
The registrar of the SC has issued a new cause list today.
According to which a three member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandiyal along with Justice Aijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar will hear the case of elections in Punjab.
The CJ will not hear routine cases tomorrow while the hearing of the elections in Punjab case will start at 11:30 am in morning.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Honourable CJ has given a deadline to the government to provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) till before this hearing.
The CJ also ordered the attorney general to inform the SC about progress regarding the government negotiations with the opposition.
No Direct Fund To ECP
The Federal Cabinet has approved to refer the summary of the Finance Ministry to the Parliament regarding the provision of 21 billion rupees to the Election Commission of Pakistan for general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The decision to this effect was taken at the Cabinet meeting held in Islamabad today with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
Talks with PTI Can Be Held In Larger Interest Of Country
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says it is overwhelming opinion of all the coalition parties in the government that doors of dialogue should not be closed and setting aside personal ego, talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf can be held in the larger interest of the country.
Addressing an important meeting of the leaders of coalition parties in Islamabad today, he said negotiations with PTI can be held through Speaker National Assembly or the Parliamentary Committee to reach consensus over holding elections simultaneously on one day.
The Prime Minister said parliament is the supreme to take decisions on all the matters. He said the Supreme Court is to give verdicts according to the law and the constitution instead of giving right of arbitration. He said the Supreme Court should respect the decisions and resolutions passed by the parliament.
He said the coalition parties have also developed consensus that elections should be held simultaneously on one day after completion of the constitution term of the current assemblies.
Strongly criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Shehbaz Sharif said its leadership exploited the prevailing situation of the country instead of resolving the challenges, Pakistan was facing, and even pushed the country into bulk of crises. He said PTI created bitterness, intolerance, chaos and division in the society.
He said even PTI agents maligned armed forces of Pakistan and its leadership through statements and tweets for their vested interests.
The Prime Minister said the coalition took several steps to bring the country out of crises. However, the situation is still challenging.
He reiterated the resolve of his government to bring the country out of the prevailing multiple challenges and put it on path of development and prosperity.
