Courts can’t force ‘dialogue’ between political parties: CJP
The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned indefinitely the hearing of the petition seeking simultaneous elections in the country after hearing from all the sides about the prospects of the talks between the government and the opposition.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial declared that political parties should sit together and find a solution to the issue otherwise the court is there to act. He remarked the court had proposed political dialogue keeping in view the prevailing situation in the country. “The political atmosphere is bitter,” he said.
The Chief Justice remarked “We will issue an order, but there would neither be any directive nor any timeline regarding the talks.”
The court outrightly rejected PTI’s request to set a timeframe for the talks with the government.
CJP Bandial remarked the court could not force the government to enter into dialogue with the opposition. “There is a proposal, not an order,
to hold talks. For now, the court is not issuing any directive or timeline,” he made it clear.
The top judge observed that there is Constitution and the apex court’s judgement if there would be no outcome of the talks.
The CJP made these observations as head of a three-member Supreme Court bench, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the same-day elections petition.
However, the hearing was
adjourned barely an hour after it started with the CJP saying that a detailed order would be issued later.
As the proceedings were set into motion on Thursday, the court questioned government’s approach towards holding talks on elections with CJP Bandial asking what steps the government has so far taken in this regard.
