ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for postponing the Punjab polls from April 30 to October 8.

The court also sought guarantees from the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to bury the hatchet for free, fair, and transparent elections. A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail heard the plea.

The court also issued notices to the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the respective chief secretaries, as well as the Federation of Pakistan. During the hearing, the Chief Justice noted that the elections should be held in a peaceful, transparent, and fair manner. He said if the government and PTI want elections, they have to give assurances.

He said the PTI and the government should evaluate that what is good and what is not good for the public. “Constitution of Pakistan was not made for only setting up or toppling the governments,” the CJP remarked suggesting that it was more than that. He said the Constitution was interpreted while keeping the life and happiness of people in mind.

He said the current situation is alarming, adding that elections can only be held when the conditions are favourable. He said the country’s atmosphere had turned poisonous due to political intolerance. He said the present political situation is terrible. Later, the court adjourned the hearing for tomorrow (Tuesday).

The petition was filed by the PTI on Saturday following the ECP decision to postpone the Punjab polls from April 30 to October 8 after financial and security authorities expressed their inability to support the electoral process.