The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition against the postponement of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which will be pronounced tomorrow.
After Justice Aminuddin and Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel separated from the five-member bench, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Atta Bandial comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar is hearing the petition of PTI.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice addressed Pakistan People's Party lawyer Farooq H. Naik, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and JUI lawyers and said, "Have you asked your client whether he has confidence in this bench because it is reported in the media that There are reports that he has no confidence in this three-member bench.
The lawyers of these three parties were not allowed to present their arguments due to non-delivery of written assurances by these three parties.
On which PML-N lawyer Akram Sheikh said that I am being humiliated in the court by not listening. I will not humiliate myself anymore. On which the Chief Justice said that you should give your arguments in writing.
On this, Akram Sheikh said that he is appearing to assist the court. He said that if a party asks me to do illegal work, don't I have my own mind to make a decision. Respect the court.
On this, the Chief Justice addressed the lawyers of the government coalition and said that Sheikh respects Kamran Murtaza and Farooq Naik along with you. The parties in the government have expressed no confidence in the three-member bench.
He remarked that you have not come in personal capacity but are representing political parties. On this occasion, Justice Muneeb Akhtar said that your power of attorney is not personal. He said that the declaration has been removed from the Twitter account of the PML-G by the court staff.
On this, Akram Sheikh said that I cannot give arguments, so should I write an article? No fee was taken from the National League. The court never sent me back disappointed.
On which the Chief Justice said that you will give the written submissions and review them. On which Akram Sheikh said that he cannot embarrass himself any more. On this occasion, Kamran Murtaza said that I was the lawyer of the governor and also the lawyer of the political party. I am leaving the governor's advocacy due to conflict of interest.
Ali Zafar, PTI's lawyer, while giving arguments in the court, said that the Election Commission cannot do anything beyond the Constitution.
On this, the Chief Justice said that the Constitution and the law are clear as to who will give the date of the elections. Irfan Qadir said that the president cannot do anything without the recommendation of the government. Can the President give the election date without advice? The Chief Justice remarked that the court is sitting for justice according to the constitution and law.
The Chief Justice said that in political cases political agenda comes to the fore, the Attorney General did not discuss this point. The Attorney General is upset that he kept insisting on 3/4.
On this, Ali Zafar said that the Election Commission cannot change the date of elections on its own. The Chief Justice said that we do not want to create problems for people here and the court is also careful in this matter.
He asked the political parties to work for the welfare of the people. He said that it is not possible to include judges of their choice. The court reserved the verdict which will be pronounced tomorrow.