The Supreme Court Friday ordered the government to ensure hold the general elections on February 8, a day after President Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja unanimously agreed on the aforementioned date during a meeting held at the President’s House.
The court’s orders came during the hearing of multiple pleas seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.
A three-member bench headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan heard the case.
The court, in its order, mentioned that the notification of the general election date has also been issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), stating that no party has any objection to holding elections on February 8.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa asked everyone in the courtroom as well as the Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, if they had any objection to the election date, but all replied in the negative.
“After all the requirements are fulfilled, the Election Commission should announce the election schedule,” CJP Isa said.
The chief justice said: “Elections will definitely be held on February 8, God willing.”
“If a channel runs a ticker casting doubts on the conduct of elections, then there will be action. The ECP will file a complaint to the regulatory body if any media house creates confusion regarding polls,” CJP Isa said.
“If there is doubt in anyone’s mind, let it be, but do not influence the public,” he ordered.
The date of the election schedule should be issued for people to stay updated, the chief justice said.
