ISLAMABAD, February23 2012 : The Supreme Court has issued notices to 26 political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League, to come up with replies by February 29 on a petition seeking reduction in expenditure during election campaigns.According to the Election Commission, 26 political parties are currently functioning in the country. A three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, also held that it would decide about the fate of 28 members of the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies after notification of the 20th Amendment in the gazette. These members of assemblies and the upper house were elected in by-polls by an election commission which did not meet the composition criteria laid down by the 18th Amendment. On February 6, the Supreme Court had ordered suspension of 28 parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies pending decision by parliament about their status.
