Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has feared that the inability to form a larger bench—to hear the election delay case—might lead to a constitutional crisis, heading towards a situation where an emergency or martial would be imposed on the country.

“If a larger bench is not formed then such a constitutional crisis will form because of which God forbid, I am concerned that God forbid an emergency or martial law type situation is not imposed in Pakistan again,” he told reporters in Larkana on Monday.

His comments came as the Supreme Court reserved its judgement on the PTI’s petition, challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone the elections to the Punjab Assembly from April 30 to October 8.

The apex court bench, which was reduced to three after two judges recused from the case, last week rejected the attorney general for Pakistan’s request to form a full court. A demand made by many lawyers and the government in view of the apparent divisions in the SC.

“I have a fear that the way the fight for the throne of Lahore has reached a point of ego… I fear that if a larger bench is not formed then history will remember Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. But it will remember him as a CJP, who made three judges sit and led the country towards dictatorship,” he added.

Bilawal, who is the PPP co-chairman, went on to add that there was still time that everyone “come to their senses”. Everyone should have a role that benefits Pakistan, he said and added that for this the formation of the full court was important.

The PTI has claimed that the country’s top electoral authority violated the SC ruling by not giving a date for elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the assembly. The ECP had delayed the polls, saying that it could not hold “fair” elections due to a lack of funds, personnel, and security staff.

Bilawal lamented that no one cares about the 90 days of local bodies election in Sindh. “A year ago, local bodies elections were held and still our members are waiting to become chairmen and mayor. At that time, no one in the Supreme Court thought about this.”

He was of the view that elections should be held on time in a democratic way where a “level playing field” should be given, however, he supported the concerns of the coalition partner on Punjab Assembly elections.

“I think the fight over the throne of Lahore has made Pakistan’s politics hostage and this is not the main issue of Pakistan at this time,” he said, “flood affected people in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and South Punjab are still waiting for aid.”

When asked about the SC registrar circular, Bilawal described him as a “super emperor” and lamented the development that set aside the decision of the three-member bench. “I think when ways of dictatorship are seen in the Supreme Court and when judges are speaking themselves about the one-man show, it would be better that the CJP and judges put their house in order to have clarity before someone else takes the step.”