Pakistan: Imran Khan Suspends 'Jail Bharo' Movement After SC verdict On Punjab, KP Elections

The party would continue its election campaigns in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following the Supreme Court's (SC) verdict, said Imran.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan

Source : File Photo/Getty

New Delhi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan announced on Wednesday that the "Jail Bharo Tehreek" would be suspended and that the party would continue its election campaigns in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following the Supreme Court's (SC) verdict. "We welcome the SC judgement. It was the responsibility of SC to uphold the Constitution and they have valiantly done that through their judgement today," the former prime minister stated following the top court's decision to hold provincial elections within 90 days.

We welcome the SC judgement. It was responsibility of SC to uphold Constitution & they have valiantly done that through their judgement today. It is an assertion of Rule of Law in Pak. We are suspending our Jail Bharo movement & moving forward with elec campaigns in KP & Punjab.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 1, 2023

The Supreme Court issued a split decision today, ordering the governor of KP to announce a date for the Punjab elections and directing the president to consult with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to do so.

It is an affirmation of Pakistan's rule of law, according to Imran Khan, whose party was one of the petitioners in the election delay case.

"We are suspending our Jail Bharo movement and moving forward with election campaigns in KP and Punjab."

According to Geo TV, Fawad Chaudhry, the leader of the PTI, had declared the verdict to be an endorsement of their position earlier in the day.

“It’s a unanimous verdict in fact as Justice Mansoor Ali Shah also said that when the Lahore High Court had taken up the matter and ruled that the elections should be held in 90 days so the Supreme Court shouldn’t have taken suo motu notice on it,” Chauhdry said.

“So he is also agreeing with our stance. And it’s a victory for the Constitution.”

Fawad also prevented the head of the Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, from speaking outside the Supreme Court after the verdict. He said that the president had been asked to announce the election in Punjab, and the governor had been told to set the date for the election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI leader went on to say that the Supreme Court has compelled the federation to provide any kind of support through its security or funding.