CJP Bandial commends Sirajul Haq’s initiative of dialogue on election issue,

Ruling alliance decides to meet after Eid to take forward ongoing consultation process  

   Islamabad_Ruling alliance has decided to hold a meeting after Eid ul Fitr where leaders of all political parties will be assembled so that the ongoing consultation process with parties in parliament and outside could be taken to the next level.

Amid the constitutional crisis in the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday presided over a high-level meeting attended by coalition partners — an alliance of 13 political parties in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — at the PM House, which discussed the overall situation in the country as well as the future course of action.

“As politicians, we never shut the doors on negotiations and no one who believes in democracy could do so,” the huddle said, reiterating the coalition parties’ belief in the Constitution, democracy and people’s vote as well as the holding of elections.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial has commended Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq for initiating a “noble and good cause” of arranging talks among leading political parties on the issue on holding elections,

CJP Bandial offered tribute to Sirajul Haq and prayed that he succeeds in his mission.

A three-judge bench led by CJP Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar took up the case about holding elections in the country on Thursday.

Leaders of a number of political parties were present in the courtroom except of PML-N’s, though federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq and Ataullah Tarar reached the apex court building.

On spotting PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the courtroom, the CJP asked him whether his party agrees with the Supreme Court’s proposal of talks. Qureshi responded the PTI has always upheld the Constitution. “The party will accept whatever order the Supreme Court issues,” he added.

The CJP then announced a brief break in the hearing, saying let’s government representatives arrive in the court.

Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that they thought the hearing will begin at 11.30 am, but it started half an hour earlier.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had declared as inadmissible for hearing the defence ministry’s plea to hold general elections across Pakistan simultaneously upon completion of the terms of the national as well as Sindh and Balochistan assemblies.

The apex court had also warned the government of “serious consequences” if it failed to release the funds required for conducting polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.