The Supreme Court has disposed of the petition for holding general elections in the country in 90 days as being withdrawn.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa raised questions on the caretaker governments and the court order for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 14. The petitioner's lawyer was also reprimanded.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that an application should have been submitted for action against those who did not conduct the elections in 90 days.
CJP Isa asked where the order of the court was of the bench that gave the verdict on holding elections on May 14. Lawyer Farooq H Naik replied that the order of the court did not exist, adding the court itself violated the constitutional period of 90 days.
The court accepted the request for withdrawal of the petition.
During the hearing, the CJP and lawyer Farooq Naik got into an interesting dialogue regarding the dissolution of assembly right before elections and the role of caretaker governments.
The CJP asked what the functions of the caretaker governments was. Farooq Naik replied that it was to hold transparent elections, which have not been held till date.
CJP Isa then asked about the job of the Election Commission of Pakistan, but remarked it was for parliament to look at. “What was the purpose of dissolving the assembly just before the government's term is completed? I am raising questions so parliament might consider them,” he added.
Farooq Naik said the caretaker governments are unconstitutional, at which the CJP snubbed him, saying this could make a headline tomorrow. Naik then withdrew his statement.