Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed his demand for the elections to take place as soon as possible, stating that postponing the election is tantamount to denying voters.
While speaking at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)-organized commemoration of the Constitution's golden jubilee, Bilawal said, "The election delayed is the election denied."
The election calendar and "level playing field" for all political parties were called after by former foreign minister Bilawal once more.
Recalling the 2009 lawyers’ movement for the judiciary's restoration, he described it as a turning point in Pakistan's judiciary history that significantly affected the court's relationship with the parliament.
Without naming him, Bilawal cited the eminent lawyer and supporter of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), as stating that "the 2009 restoration of the judiciary as a result of public pressure had resulted in judges prone to arrogance and a bar prone to violence."
The former minister went on to say that the judiciary, led by Chaudhry, turned into a political player in the 2013 general election and that this continued until the 2018 elections.
"It is hoped that this time it will be different," he said.
Since the conclusion of the parliament's term, Bilawal said that his party has been unsuccessfully requesting an election date and schedule.
He said that the parties' right to hold elections was unquestionable, notwithstanding his well-known viewpoint on 90-day elections, "which may now have become a moot point."
Moreover, earlier today, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa observed that it was “not possible” to meet the 90-day deadline for holding elections and lamented the lack of preparations of the petitioners.
The top judge passed the observation while hearing the petitions seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies. The CJP is leading a three-member bench comprising himself, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan on the matter.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Supreme Court Bar Association, and other parties filed the pleas to make sure that the elections held within the allotted time.