The Supreme Court (SC) rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) request for a reconsideration of the apex court’s directive to hold elections in Punjab on May 14.

In an order issued on April 4, the Supreme Court not only invalidated the ECP’s decision to postpone the Punjab polls from April 10 to October 8, deeming it “unconstitutional,” but also designated May 14 as the new date for the province’s elections. This decision dealt a blow to the then coalition government, which was accused of delaying provincial elections.

The verdict, delivered unanimously, came from a three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. The bench also included Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

On March 22, the ECP had postponed the provincial assembly election in Punjab, a politically pivotal province, by over five months due to the worsening security situation in the financially struggling nation. This move was criticized by Imran Khan, the chairman of PTI.

Following his removal in April 2023 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, Imran Khan had been advocating for early elections. However, then-Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif rejected this demand and adhered to the original plan of holding elections later in the year.

The PDM government aimed for nationwide elections and simultaneous voting for both provincial assemblies on the same day.

During today’s hearing, Chief Justice Bandial remarked that, “The court will intervene whenever there will be a constitutional violation.”