ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan and Lahore High Court (LHC) to hold meaning consultations as soon as possible.
The top court gave the directives through a written order on an appeal of the ECP on a matter related to establishment of eight election tribunals.
The SC held that both the Election Commission of Pakistan and the office of the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court are constitutional institutions and they deserved the utmost respect.
“If these two constitutional institutions engage in meaningful consultations, the matter can be resolved,” observed the apex court.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan also agreed that meaningful consultations should take place.
According to the order, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court was unanimously nominated in the meeting of the Judicial Commission on July 2. The court kept the case pending without going into the merits of the case, and it would be appropriate for meaningful consultations to take place between the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court and the Election Commission.
The top court also held that the Election Commission’s letter dated April 26, the notification, the Lahore High Court’s decision dated May 29, and the notification dated June 12 are suspended until the next hearing.
Therefore, after the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court takes the oath, meaningful consultations should take place as soon as possible, and the case would be scheduled for a hearing immediately after the consultations.
