ISI and MI chiefs brief Supreme Court judges on security situation
Meeting between judges and chiefs of ISI and MI continued for more than three hours in Chief Justice's chamber. If judges are convinced, meeting will have far-reaching results, Hasnat Malik reporter tribune
Top officials of country’s two main intelligence agencies, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), on Monday headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Atta Bandyal, announced that election will be held on May 14 in Punjab. Met 3-member bench hearing case.
Senior Reporter of Express Tribune Hasnat Malik Citing sources, it has been revealed that meeting between judges and chiefs of ISI and MI continued for more than three hours in chambers of Chief Justice.
Sources said that intelligence officers briefed judges on security issues facing country. A 3-member bench headed by Chief Justice, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, on April 4 called Election Commission’s decision to postpone Punjab Assembly elections ‘unconstitutional’ and ordered elections to be held in province on May 14.
On March 22, the Coalition Commission postponed the provincial assembly elections in Punjab province for more than 5 months justifying the non-availability of funds and deteriorating security situation.
The same bench had on April 14 ordered the State Bank of Pakistan to release Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in this regard, the Finance Ministry should send appropriate communication by Monday, April 17.
In an earlier hearing, the defense secretary had requested the bench to seek an in-camera briefing on security matters. But the bench had directed him to submit a confidential report first.
A lawyer said April 17 was the last date to inform the Election Commission of the security plan as per the Supreme Court directive. Why can’t the army be provided for “?
It is not clear whether the Supreme Court was satisfied with the briefing or not. However, if the judges are convinced that the security situation in the country does not allow the deployment of the army to ensure security during polling in Punjab, the briefing will have far-reaching implications.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has called a meeting of his coalition parties today to discuss the current political situation. The Prime Minister will take his allies into confidence about the cases pending in the Supreme Court regarding elections and the Chief Justice’s powers.
