ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday made a 14-page appeal to the Pakistani Supreme Court to review its directives to hold elections for the Punjab Assembly on May 14, urging it not to intervene in ECP domain.
The petition, made hours after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that it would submit a detailed report of the talks between its leaders and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance of several political parties, beseeched the SC “[…] it is most respectfully prayed that this August Court may graciously accept the instant Review Petition by revisiting, reviewing, reconsidering and recalling its Impunged Order/Judgment dated 04.04.2023, in the interest of justice and equity.”
Citing articles 199 and 184(3) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Pakistani election commission said the court could “define the contours within which the power (which vests in the public bodies) is or is to be exercised. At no instance, can the superior courts take upon themselves the role of the public body.”
By doing this, the ECP said, the Supreme Court was disregarding its constitutional jurisdiction, emphasising that it had assumed upon itself the role of a public body by giving a date, which “necessitated correction of an error…..”
