Court Can’t Force Dialogue Between Political Parties Over Elections, Says Chief Justice

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has ruled that the courts cannot force the government and opposition to hold negotiations as former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator advocate Farooq H Naek told the court that only the Senate chairman can act as a facilitator between political parties since he represents a political forum.

At the previous hearing, the court had asked political parties to hold negotiations to end the impasse over the delay of elections. However, the ruling coalition criticised the top judiciary for “interfering in political matters” and refused to comply with the directives.

During today’s hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that the government and opposition had decided to hold a meeting on April 26, saying that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafique met PTI’s Asad Qaiser on April 25. But Asad Qaiser refused to hold talks over the matter, saying he was not authorised.

Justice Bandial asked in what capacity was Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani contacted to serve as a facilitator of the dialogue since he was neither the representative of the government nor the opposition.

“If the government was serious about negotiations, it would have made efforts itself,” said the CJP.

The top judge remarked that the court cannot force the government and opposition to hold negotiations, stressing that it only sought adherence to the Constitution and an end to the deadlock over the delay of elections.

During the hearing, PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek told the court that the coalition parties had agreed to hold talks with PTI and Senate was the only forum where all political parties were present. He also made it clear that the Senate chairman was playing the role of a facilitator during the negotiations since he represents a political forum. He maintained that this is a political issue, which will only be decided by politicians.

The CJP had also called PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi to the rostrum to present his party’s perspective during the hearing.

News Desk

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has ruled that the courts cannot force the government and opposition to hold negotiations as former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator advocate Farooq H Naek told the court that only the Senate chairman can act as a facilitator between political parties since he represents a political forum.

At the previous hearing, the court had asked political parties to hold negotiations to end the impasse over the delay of elections. However, the ruling coalition criticised the top judiciary for “interfering in political matters” and refused to comply with the directives.

During today’s hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that the government and opposition had decided to hold a meeting on April 26, saying that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafique met PTI’s Asad Qaiser on April 25. But Asad Qaiser refused to hold talks over the matter, saying he was not authorised.

Justice Bandial asked in what capacity was Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani contacted to serve as a facilitator of the dialogue since he was neither the representative of the government nor the opposition.

“If the government was serious about negotiations, it would have made efforts itself,” said the CJP.

The top judge remarked that the court cannot force the government and opposition to hold negotiations, stressing that it only sought adherence to the Constitution and an end to the deadlock over the delay of elections.

During the hearing, PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naek told the court that the coalition parties had agreed to hold talks with PTI and Senate was the only forum where all political parties were present. He also made it clear that the Senate chairman was playing the role of a facilitator during the negotiations since he represents a political forum. He maintained that this is a political issue, which will only be decided by politicians.

The CJP had also called PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi to the rostrum to present his party’s perspective during the hearing.

News Desk