The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, has stated that judges of the Supreme Court cannot “blink” their eyes if the Constitution mandates polls within 90 days of an assembly’s dissolution. Speaking at a conference on minority rights, the Chief Justice emphasized that it was the judges’ duty to uphold the Constitution and say so. His remarks came after the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold general elections to the Punjab Assembly on May 14, which was rejected by the government. Negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf remained inconclusive. Justice Bandial stated that the Supreme Court’s judgments have moral authority and will be implemented sooner or later, adding that he was optimistic that the nation’s leaders, institutions, and people were all committed to the Constitution.