Court’s verdict of polls on May 14 will not be reversed: CJP

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umer Atta Bandial Thursday said that Supreme Court’s decision of Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 will not be reversed.

According to details, the petitions to hold elections simultaneously across the country was heard by three-member bench headed by CJP Bandial including Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar.

The three-member bench has adjourned the hearing till 4:00pm to give time to the political parties for consensus and has summoned them today in court.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Babar Awan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ata Tarar, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Farooq H Naek, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Latif Khosa, federal ministers Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazir Tarar, Saad Rafique, Tariq Basheer Cheema, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq were present in the courtroom.

At the beginning of the hearing today, the lawyer Shah Khawar of the petitioner Sardar Kashif said it is hoped that all the political parties will agree on one point, all the problems will be solved by the elections on the same day.

Chief Justice said that if we issue orders through the court, complications arise. If political parties settle matters through mutual understanding, then it is a blessing. Today is the 29th night of Ramadan and we are starting our good work.

First of all, let’s listen to the government, tell us about the one-point agenda of the elections and listen to all the political parties in turn when the elections are held together, stated Bandial.

He stated that he was grateful for the visit of the political leaders. It is an honor for the top leadership to come to the court.

There will be peace if the political leadership solves the problem. The Ministry of Defense also presented a good briefing. The Attorney General was supposed to give arguments on the issue of elections together, but he succumbed to politics.

Chief Justice continued that Farooq H Naek had also said that elections should be held simultaneously, we told him not to boycott us.

I read the statement of former President Asif Ali Zardari in the newspaper and grateful to him that he agreed to our proposal, the important thing is that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also agreed to the proposal.

Farooq H Naek said: “The government parties had the same position earlier that elections should be held simultaneously, the 90-day limit has expired in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”.

The government parties are consulting on the issue of elections on the same day, he added stating that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also met Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Zardari is also consulting with allies.

Farooq said that immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr, political dialogue will be held with PTI along with allies, peaceful and transparent elections will be possible with one day elections, political parties should solve the problems together.

“We will hold talks with PTI to end the tension, we will try to create a political consensus through these dialogues,” Naek continued.

Leader of PML-N Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that the political atmosphere is very difficult, but it is the matter of destiny of the people of Pakistan. We believe that dialogue should be done instead of competition. “Our party is ready for elections and dialogue one day,” he added.

Khawaja said that we have called a party meeting of our leaders after Eid. We are ready to sit with the opposition and find a solution for the elections, we are friends among politicians.

Saad Rafiq stated: “We do not want to make court a debate club, we will come together for questions- answers session”.

We have suffered jails for the judiciary and the country, suffered torture too. We do not want to stay in power for a day more than the constitutional period, we are the children of the builders of the country, said Khawaja Saad.

Chief Justice responded that social media also has a hand in showing disputes.

PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said: “Hostility has increased in the country, our party first started consulting with the allied parties”.

Kaira stated that we are sure that the political forces will sit down and end all the resentment. We are grateful to the Supreme Court for suggesting negotiations, PPP always spoke for the security of the country, he added.

Qamar Zaman said that harsh talks should not be held in the court. We will have speeches at the forum of parliament, and will not allow any act against the constitution. There is no question of prolonging the elections, we assure the court that we will not waste time beyond the constitutional period.

PPP leader added we do not want a talk show or dialogue in the court. Elections were held simultaneously in the country and went ahead of the scheduled date too. The makers of the constitution are its protectors. We will always stand in front of those who go beyond the constitution.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that our party has a political opinion and a legal. The legal opinion says that elections are required within 90 days under the constitution.

PTI only wants elections and ready for it. We are ready to support to advance political matters. He added that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had committed that if we dissolve the Punjab Assembly, they will dissolve the National Assembly. At their request, the provincial assemblies were dissolved, PDM had promised to hold elections.

Shah Mehmood said that the legal path is clear, now we have to look at the political path as well. The government told the court about many issues including funds, PML-N backed away from its position. Tehreek-e-Insaf is ready for all-round negotiations while staying within the constitution.

Supreme Court gave a decision regarding the elections, obstacles were raised in the implementation of the court verdict. Court showed tolerance and restraint and protected the constitution, said Shah Memood.

Yesterday Chief Justice said in hearing that if the political parties want to change the date of the elections, then the court is with them. If the political parties come to a stand, they can make room. If there is an agreement in the political negotiations, then fine, otherwise we have given an order for May 14.