Punjab polls to be held on May 14; verdict ‘remains unchanged’: Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday stated that talks between the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to resolve the political impasse over the timing of the general election were started in a volunteer capacity and that the top court did not give any instructions in this regard.

The Punjab election delay case’s three-page verdict from the April 27 proceedings stated that the top court’s April 4 ruling ordering the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold Punjab elections on May 14 “remained unchanged.”

“The Court appreciates the efforts of all parties to try to end the current political impasse and in particular their voluntary agreement to enter into negotiations to choose a single date for holding General Elections to the National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies,” read the verdict issued by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The apex court also clarified that the “negotiations between the two sides were entirely to be their own effort, without any direction or order of the Court in this regard in any manner”.

“It was also made clear that the order of 04.04.2023 in Const. P.5 of 2023 remained unchanged,” the verdict added.

The development came a day after the ECP moved the Supreme Court against its directives to hold elections to the Punjab Assembly on May 14, urging it not to intervene in its matters.