The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has delivered a verdict reinstating the caretaker government system.
On Thursday morning, a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed announced the verdict, also declaring the 13th amendment to the Constitution valid.
According to the Supreme Court’s judgment, the upcoming 13th national election will be held under the current interim government, and the caretaker government system will be implemented ahead of the 14th parliamentary election. The court also directed that the verdict be incorporated into the Constitution.
On 11 November, the apex court wrapped up the hearings and scheduled 20 November (Thursday) for pronouncing the verdict on the appeals and review petitions.
Earlier on 27 August, the Appellate Division allowed the filing of an appeal against the verdict that abolished the caretaker government system.
During the hearing on the appeals, the counsels for the appellants, petitioners and the state prayed to the apex court to overturn its 2011 verdict and reinstate the non-party caretaker government system to the constitution to hold free and fair polls and to establish democracy.
The hearing of the appeals to restore the caretaker government system began on 21 October.
The caretaker system was introduced into the Constitution through the 13th Amendment in 1996. Later, three lawyers including Advocate M Salim Ullah, filed a writ petition challenging the amendment in 1998.
The petition was dismissed in 2004, and the petitioners appealed in 2005.
