Islamabad February 22 2023: Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal has formed a nine-member bench taking notice of the delay in elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the hearing of which will begin tomorrow.
This notice on behalf of the Chief Justice has been taken on the note written by two judges of the Supreme Court, Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Mazahir Naqvi.
The nine-member bench will hear the suo motu notice from tomorrow.
The nine-member bench includes Justice Umar Atta Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Manullah. .
Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal has said in a suo motu notice that a two-member bench of the court requested to take suo motu notice under Article 184 III of the Constitution in a case on February 16, 2023.
This bench does not include senior most judges Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Justice Tariq Masood.
It should be noted that the Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dissolved on January 14 and January 18 respectively.
In a suo motu notice by the Chief Justice, three questions have been placed for the larger bench to consider. In these questions:
After the dissolution of the Provincial Assembly in various circumstances, who has the authority to fix the date for holding the general elections of the Provincial Assembly in the constitution?
When and how will this constitutional obligation be fulfilled?
What are the constitutional responsibilities and duties of the federation and provinces for holding general elections?
It should be noted that on February 20, President Dr. Arif Alvi announced the date of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 9.
