Concerns on the poll timing have arisen from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling out elections this year. The electoral watchdog reasons its decision to push elections beyond November 9 on the basis of the notification of results of the new digital 2023 census and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, which states: “The commission shall delimit constituencies after every census is officially published.”

With elections potentially just a few months away, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been engaging in public gatherings and organising party meetings as part of the party’s electoral preparations of late. One such highly-anticipated meeting of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee was held today.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Bilawal said the announcement of an election date and schedule was the only way to dispel the “confusion and atmosphere of instability and insecurity” prevalent in the country.

Reading out the resolution passed during the CEC meeting, the PPP chairman said: “The party had an extensive discussion on constitutional matters, including the urgent need for dampening the cycle of chronic political instability which will only settle down with the announcement of an election date and schedule.

“The party’s lawyers also briefed the leadership on the responsibility of the ECP to announce an election date and schedule immediately as per the constitutional requirement.”

Bilawal reiterated concerns regarding the lack of a “level-playing field” in the current political landscape, saying that his complaint was connected to “one party”.

In this context, he said PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was empowered by the party’s apex committee to raise these concerns at “appropriate forums” and address them.

During a CEC meeting a day earlier, the PPP had expressed concerns over the inclusion of pro-PML-N men in the caretaker cabinet, the ban slapped on development projects in Sindh by the election watchdog, as well as the delay in the announcement of a date for general elections.

Reiterating its chairman’s earlier gripe of an uneven playing field in the lead-up to the polls, the PPP had urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections as soon as possible, if not within the 90-day constitutional limit.

The PPP top brass was found in agreement with Bilawal when it came to the timings of the elections. However, some of the members were concerned over the ‘aggressive’ tone of the PPP chairperson in recent public gatherings.

Bilawal and the majority of the members had brushed aside concerns about his “aggressive tone” and vowed to toe the “same line of true and just politics” and take their stance to the election campaign.

In a reply submitted in a contempt petition, the superintendant said that people imprisoned under the Official Secrets Act are not allowed the facility of using a telephone.

The officer also submitted a letter by the Punjab Prison Foundation which says that under the Prison Rules of 1978, overseas calls cannot be allowed to any prisoner.

The superintendant said that since the the phone call was not allowed under any law, no court orders had been violated by not allowing it.

Judge Abu Alhasnaat Zulqurnain has asked for arguments to be presented on the superintendant’s reply on September 18.

Chief Justice of Pakistan anounced the 2-1 decision of allowing Khan’s petition, with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah dissenting.

The judegment said that all cases against public office holders that had been closed by the amendments would be reopened. The judgement will restore all the accountability cases against a host of politicians. The judgement has added that all such cases should be reopened within seven days.

 All decisions handed by accountability courts under the amended law have also been declared null and void.

The decision also struck down a clause that had said that cases involving less than Rs500 million would not be seen by NAB.

Clauses regarding plea bargains and shifting the burden of proof to the prosecution have also been declared void.

The decision also strikes down changes in definitions of assets beyond means and benami properties.

The judgement comes on the last workday of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial’s tenure. A total of 53 hearings were held in the case.

Reserving the judgment on September 5, CJP Bandial had said that the court will hand down a ‘short and sweet’ judgement before his retirement.

A notice issued on Friday morning said that a three-member bench consisting of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah would announce the decision at 12:15 pm. The time was later changed to 12:30pm.

The case is based on a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan in 2022 against the amendment passed by the parliament during the Pakistan Democratic Movement government’s tenure. The decision was announced after a total of 53 hearings.

The NAB amendments had restricted the bureau’s powers to probe corruption to only include cases involving atleast Rs500 million. The las had also reduced the tenure of the bureau’s chairman and ordered that pending inquiries should be transferred to relevant authorities.

Imran Khan had said in the petition that the amendments had been brought to legitimise corruption and provide benefit to ‘influential’ personalities.

According to details, CJP Umar Atta Bandial is retiring from his post tomorrow (Saturday) and will be replaced by the senior-most judge of Supreme Court, Justice Qazi Faiz Esa who will take oath as the Chief Justice of Pakistan on September 17.

On the last day in the bench of Supreme Court, Chief Justice Umar Atta thanked the lawyers and journalists and said: “Good to see you all my friends”.

Lawyer Mian Bilal stated when it was your first case in High Court, I appeared before you. Today it is your last case in the Supreme Court, again I am appearing.

Speaking to the lawyer, Chief Justice replied: “Your case has become ineffective, but if you give arguments, it is a good idea to keep the heart happy”.

Lawyer Mian Bilal added you always listened to us patiently, to which Justice Bandial said it is our duty to listen patiently to everyone. We always get to learn and support from the bar.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan continued to say that by wearing a black coat, we consider ourselves a part of the bar. “Justice Sahir Ali used to say that bar is our mother, God willing, we will meet in the bar room,” he added.

Justice Umar Atta said: “Thanks to my colleagues in the media who kept me diligent. I welcome the criticism of media. They must criticize the decisions but not the judges as they cannot defend themselves in response to criticism”.

Before criticizing a judge, check whether it is based on truth or speculation, criticism of judges should not be based on lies, added Umar.

The Chief Justice said that he is grateful to Allah who took his service to serve the country and justice, he did the duty for Allah.

According to the police, there was an explosion in the gas pipeline from Sui to Karachi at the village of Ghulam Rasool Malik.

Police officials said that police and officials of sensitive institutions have reached the place of incident and started the investigation related to the incident.

Officials added that according to initial investigation, the explosion in the pipeline was caused due to gas pressure, however, further investigation into the incident is underway.

ATC Judge Abual Hsanat Zulqarnain announced the verdict on the PTI leader's plea and directed him to submit a surety bond of Rs20,000 against the bail.

The PTI president was arrested hours after his release from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody on September 1, despite the fact that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had explicitly restricted the authorities from arresting him earlier that day.

The September 1 order was a reiteration of similar orders issued by the high court on July 13, 2023. Elahi has been arrested and detained repeatedly since the May 9 riots.

The PTI president is accused of sending rioters to Islamabad to vandalise the judicial complex along with providing vehicles and batons for the same, the police claimed, adding that the physical remand was being sought to question him about unidentified criminals and recover vehicles.

In the previous hearing, Judge Zulqarnain had sent the PTI leader to Adiala jail on a 14-day judicial remand after rejecting the prosecution's request seeking a 10-day physical remand.

During the hearing today, Elahi's lawyer Sardar Abdul Razzaq told the court that his client's name was added to the first information report (FIR) six months after it was filed.

The Elahi counsel said that others including PTI Chairman Imran Khan and party leader Asad Umar were granted bail in the same case, pleading that his client should also be granted bail.

However, the prosecution opposed the bail plea.

Lawyer Babar Awan told the court that Elahi was not named in the FIR, adding that the police could not recover anything during the three-day physical remand.

"Parvez Elahi was arrested on the basis of suspicion," added Awan.

At this, Prosecutor Raja Naveed said that the provisions under which the FIR was registered are non-bailable. "

The judge observed that Elahi was not nominated in the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) attack case. He added that nothing was recovered during his physical remand.

After hearing the arguments, the ATC judge accepted Elahi’s bail application.

Judicial complex riots

On March 18, PTI workers suddenly began pelting stones at the authorities inside the premises of the Federal Judicial Complex during Khan’s appearance before different courts in connection with multiple cases filed against him.

The former prime minister came with hoards of people — who had wooden sticks and stones in their hands — from the opposite side of the road in violation of Section 144.

The situation resulted in injuring 52 police and personnel of other assisting forces, said the police, adding that the PTI workers also damaged 12 Islamabad police vehicles.

Three police vehicles of the Punjab police and Frontier Corps (FC) were also damaged by agitated workers. Moreover, the workers also set fire to four cars of the federal police which were completely burned, added the police.

Subsequently, a terrorism case was registered against the PTI workers at the counter-terrorism department (CTD) police station for vandalism.

Islamabad police had also registered an FIR against the PTI cheif and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in attacking cops, setting ablaze vehicles and destroying property.