Mansoor Usman Awan, who is representing the PML-N in the suo motu case, told the five-member SC bench that the PDM coalition also has members from Balochistan, whereas the PML-N has to hold internal discussions as well as consult with the PPP.
“The court proceedings should continue as more time is needed for consultations,” he told the court.
Meanwhile, PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek reported back that consultations were held with the PPP leadership. “The [party] leadership said that ‘giving the election date is not the job of political parties.’”
Earlier, the court had adjourned the hearing until 4pm, with instructions for the political parties to decide on a date.
“Even if we take a decision [on the matter], the litigation will continue and this will be very costly for the public and political parties,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial remarked as he passed the directives to the lawyers to speak to respective party heads.
The instructions were issued after a five-member bench resumed hearing the apex court’s suo motu proceedings regarding the delay in the provincial polls.
The top judge had yesterday split a larger bench into a five-member bench to conduct the proceedings. He also indicated that they would like to conclude the matter by today.
The judges hearing the case today are CJP Bandial, Justice Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mandokhail, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.
Those who dissociated themselves from the hearing include Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Minallah.
After the Supreme Court on Tuesday gave PTI and the coalition government until 4pm to sit together and come up with election dates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab — which have been under caretaker governments since the provincial assemblies were dissolved in January — PML-N’s counsel told the court that more time was needed for consultations on the matter.
Mansoor Usman Awan, who is representing the PML-N in the suo motu case, told the five-member SC bench that the PDM coalition also has members from Balochistan, whereas the PML-N has to hold internal discussions as well as consult with the PPP.
“The court proceedings should continue as more time is needed for consultations,” he told the court.
Meanwhile, PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek reported back that consultations were held with the PPP leadership. “The [party] leadership said that ‘giving the election date is not the job of political parties.’”
Earlier, the court had adjourned the hearing until 4pm, with instructions for the political parties to decide on a date.
“Even if we take a decision [on the matter], the litigation will continue and this will be very costly for the public and political parties,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial remarked as he passed the directives to the lawyers to speak to respective party heads.
The instructions were issued after a five-member bench resumed hearing the apex court’s suo motu proceedings regarding the delay in the provincial polls.
The top judge had yesterday split a larger bench into a five-member bench to conduct the proceedings. He also indicated that they would like to conclude the matter by today.
The judges hearing the case today are CJP Bandial, Justice Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mandokhail, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.
Those who dissociated themselves from the hearing include Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Minallah.
