Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, On Thursday, encouraged the ruling alliance and the opposition to sit down for election discussions for the sake of the Constitution.
“Please sit together for the sake of the Constitution,” CJP Bandial said as he concluded today’s hearing in the election delay case.
The session was convened amid a standoff between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over election talks.
At the start of the hearing, Pakistan’s Attorney General (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan reminded the court that the initial communication between the government and the opposition occurred on April 19, and they agreed to meet on April 26.
He claimed that federal ministers Ayaz Sadiq and Saad Rafique met with PTI leader Asad Qaiser, who stated that he lacked the power to hold negotiations.
The ruling coalition convened on Wednesday, according to the AGP. He noted that two of the coalition partners had concerns to the negotiations, but they found a way out.
Awan informed the court that Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had written to both the government and the opposition, requesting four names from the Treasury and Opposition benches in Parliament.
CJP Bandial then enquired as to what the government had done after Qaiser told them of his inability to hold negotiations.
The AGP said that they learned via the media on Tuesday that PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has the authority to hold negotiations.
The CJP then inquired as to what capacity the Senate chairman was contacted. AGP Awan reacted by saying that the senate chairman was urged to intercede since his office was a “symbol of the federation.”
CJP Bandial stated that Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek stated during the previous hearing that he will help the talks.
“The Senate Chairman represents neither the government nor the opposition.” If the government was serious about negotiating, it would have taken action,” the CJP said.
“The court cannot compel [parties] to engage in dialogue.” “The court only wants the Constitution to be implemented so that the dispute can be resolved,” the top judge remarked. He stated that the court did not require elucidation, but rather a resolution to the problem.
Concerning Senate discussions, the CJP noted that it will take time for the chairman to call a meeting.
At this point, PPP lawyer Naek stated that all members of the ruling coalition were eager to talk with the PTI.
“The Senate is the only institution in which all parties are represented,” he remarked. He also stated that negotiations would be conducted by a group of political leaders.
“Because it is a political issue, political leaders should be allowed to solve it.” Naik stated, “Let politicians decide the future of politics.”
Following this, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi took the rostrum and informed the court that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had “no consensus” on discussions. He went on to say that his party took the court’s order seriously, even while the administration “tried to violate the Constitution.”
“For the sake of national interest, the court gave political parties a chance.” “However, PTI has yet to be contacted,” Qureshi remarked.
CJP Bandial then stated that patience is required during discussions.
The bench was then informed by Naek that PDM head Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been persuaded to hold talks in the Senate.
“The court has not issued an order; it has only provided advice.” “If there is no agreement for the sake of national interest and the Constitution, things will remain as they are,” CJP Bandial stated. He also questioned why there was a delay in naming representatives for negotiations and whether the government had presented its five names.
“The names of the government will be finalized within three to four hours.” “If the PTI wants, it can name three senators, but five [senators] are critical,” Naek remarked.
CJP Bandial then requested that Naek be included in the talks to help cool things down. He also observed that the government appeared to be transferring the buck on talks.
While wrapping up today’s session, CJP Bandial stated that the court will neither give any directives nor set a timeline for the negotiations. He did, however, emphasise that the court will make an appropriate order.
PTI rejects Senate chairman’s offer
Prior to the hearing, the PTI rejected Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani’s proposal to form a 10-member special parliamentary committee with equal representation from both parties to begin a conversation to end the impasse.
The suggestion came after the Supreme Court instructed political parties to engage a dialogue in order to reach an agreement on the date of elections in the country during its last session before Eid ul Fitr.
The hearing was subsequently postponed to today (April 27) after the key ruling parties — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — assured the Supreme Court that they would sit with the PTI and try to reach an agreement on the election schedule.
Despite a thaw in rigid views on both sides, this has not yet occurred.
However, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s direction, the ruling coalition has proposed the formation of a 10-member parliamentary committee with equal participation from both sides to begin talks on holding elections across the country on the same date.
Following a meeting of the ruling allies on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that a parliamentary committee would review the parameters of discussions between the associated parties and the PTI.
Meanwhile, the PTI has constituted a three-member committee to negotiate elections on the same day as the ruling alliance.
