The Supreme Court has deferred the formation of election tribunals, directing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court to hold consultations on the matter.
It also issued a stay order on the implementation on the LHC verdict till the next hearing, and said the petition will remain pending until the consultation is completed. The court's decision follows the election commission's appeal against a Lahore High Court ruling concerning the establishment of election tribunals.
The Supreme Court's decision came as a five-member bench heard the ECP's plea against the LHC's recent verdict constituting eight election tribunals for hearing election petitions regarding national and provincial assembly constituencies. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, comprised Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi.
CJP Isa expressed frustration over the objections raised by the PTI lawyer regarding the larger bench, stating that such concerns should have been presented on the first day of proceedings. He emphasized that the court would not permit its processes to be scandalized.
The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the Lahore High Court's decision and suspended the ECP's panel summons and tribunal formation notifications until the next hearing. The court suggested that if there had been a meeting between the ECP and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court, the issue might have already been resolved.
The Supreme Court's order maintains that the petition will remain pending until the ECP and the Lahore High Court CJP complete their consultation.
