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Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Denies Issuing Judges’ Clarification
The Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court denies issuing an explanatory statement from 8 judges on the Election Commission's request, citing no official notice.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-16
Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Denies Issuing Judges’ Clarification

The Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court has expressed ignorance of a clarification issued by eight Supreme Court judges regarding the Election Commission’s miscellaneous request. In a note addressed to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Deputy Registrar distanced himself from the media reports that a clarification had been officially released by the court.

 

The note, written on September 14, emphasizes that no notices were issued by the Registrar's Office to the concerned parties regarding the Election Commission’s request. Despite this, the clarification reportedly appeared on the Supreme Court's official website.

 

According to the Deputy Registrar’s note, “Notices have not been issued on the Election Commission’s request for clarification,” suggesting a disconnect between the Supreme Court’s internal processes and the clarification that was posted online. The note further stated that no such statement or clarification had been officially received by the Registrar’s Office as of 8 pm.

 

The controversy stems from a decision rendered by a full-court bench of the Supreme Court on July 12. The court’s ruling annulled decisions made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Peshawar High Court, ordering that reserved seats for women and minorities should be given to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The court's 5-8 majority ruling asserted that PTI remained a legitimate political entity, entitled to its designated seats despite lacking an election symbol.

 

In a recent development, the eight-judge bench issued a clarification related to this July 12 ruling, which has now come under scrutiny. The clarification, addressing the ECP’s request, stated that the original decision was unambiguous and had been unnecessarily complicated by the Election Commission. The bench also warned that failure to implement the ruling could have serious repercussions.

 

Notably, the clarification recognized Barrister Gohar as PTI’s chairman and Umar Ayub as the party’s General Secretary, further cementing PTI's standing on the specific seats for women and minorities.

 

The emerging confusion highlights the apparent lack of communication within the Supreme Court, raising questions about the authenticity of the clarification that appeared on the website.

 

The Election Commission and PTI have both been at the center of this dispute, as the court decision holds significant implications for the political landscape. As it stands, no clear information has surfaced about who was responsible for issuing the clarification without the knowledge of the Registrar's Office.

 

With the stakes high, this legal ambiguity adds further complexity to the already charged political atmosphere in Pakistan. The Supreme Court has yet to comment on the Deputy Registrar's note, leaving the matter unresolved.

 
Tagged:

PTI

ElectionCommission

SupremeCourt

JudicialConfusion
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