Islamabad, In a significant development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order that challenged the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy. This decision came during a session presided over by a three-member bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Supreme Court’s ruling directs the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to proceed with issuing the election schedule by Friday night. This follows the ECP’s move earlier on Friday to contest the LHC verdict, which had put a hold on the appointment of election officers drawn from bureaucratic ranks.

The suspension of the LHC order by the Supreme Court represents a crucial turn in the ongoing discourse around the administrative arrangements for upcoming elections. It underscores the judiciary’s role in mediating disputes related to election management and the appointment of officials overseeing the electoral process.

The direction to the ECP to expedite the election schedule indicates the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring timely electoral processes in the country. This development is particularly significant in the context of Pakistan’s democratic framework, where the independence and effectiveness of electoral bodies are pivotal for free and fair elections.