PTI ends ‘Jail Bharo’ drive after SC’s verdict

Islamabad: The former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan Wednesday announced to suspend ‘Jail Bharo’ movement and moving forward with election campaigns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab.

Imran Khan Turned to Twitter and wrote that we welcome the Supreme Court’s judgment, adding that “It was responsibility of SC to uphold Constitution and they have valiantly done that through their judgment today”.

PTI chairman stated that the decision is an assertion of Rule of Law in Pakistan.

We welcome the SC judgement. It was responsibility of SC to uphold Constitution & they have valiantly done that through their judgement today. It is an assertion of Rule of Law in Pak. We are suspending our Jail Bharo movement & moving forward with elec campaigns in KP & Punjab.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 1, 2023

Earlier today in a split decision, SC directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections within 90 days as it announced its reserved verdict in the suo motu notice taken over the polls date of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab.  

Three members of the bench provided relief to the petitioners, while two others dissented, objecting to the pleas' admissibility.

Justices Jamal Mandokhail and Mansoor Ali Shah disagreed with the majority verdict.

The Supreme Court delivered the verdict, emphasizing that the Constitution mandates holding elections within 60 and 90 days after dissolving the assemblies and that the general elections' procedure is different.

"Conducting elections within 90 days of assembly dissolution is compulsory," Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Bandial remarked.

The apex court reserved its momentous verdict on Tuesday, following two-day long hearings.

A five-member bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial reserved the verdict after hearing lengthy arguments of both sides. Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail were the other bench members.