ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has set aside petitions seeking to hold a referendum on the presidential form of government in the country after declaring them not maintainable.
The apex court on Friday released its written judgement on the petitions seeking referendum on the imposition of presidential system in Pakistan. Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial authored the verdict.
The judgement says the court does not hold jurisdiction to order for holding referendum on presidential system. In the petitions, political question was raised regarding presidential form of government. The court does not find any directions/guidance on the subject in country’s constitution and law.
In the absence of any constitutional guidance, the court is not in a position to give its decision on a political question. The verdict says two questions were asked from petitioner and his lawyers. The court is not authorized to give its decision on the change of political system in the country. The SC verdict further says that the objections raised by the registrar office were right. The petitions are not maintainable, it concluded.