LAHORE: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has termed the move by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone elections for Punjab Assembly till October 8, 2023 as violation of Constitution.
Also read: Sheikh Rashid warns against pushing Imran Khan to wall
The ECP on Wednesday issued a lengthy statement, withdrawing the election programme […] saying it would issue fresh schedule in due course of time with poll date on October 8.
ORDER of the Honourable Election Commission of Pakistan – Conduct of General Elections to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab https://t.co/0x4MnH6JiQ#ECP
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)???????? (@ECP_Pakistan) March 22, 2023
The move by ECP came within hours after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah delivered a speech at the Joint Session of Parliament, pleading with Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to “review” the March 1 ruling regarding holding of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, warning that split polls would further deepen political crisis and create chaos in the country.
Interestingly, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, while hearing the case of CCPO Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar on Wednesday, had warned of intervention if any malafide intention is found in the way of holding free and transparent elections.
Also read: SC warns of intervention in case of malafide intentions towards fair polls
It may be recalled that on March 1, the Supreme Court had ruled that the elections to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies should be held within the stipulated period of 90 days. It had, however, allowed the ECP to propose a poll date that deviates from the 90-day deadline by the “barest minimum”, in case of any practical difficulty.
Taking to Twitter, the PTI Chairman said “by postponing Punjab elections till Oct ECP has violated the Constitution. Today everyone must stand behind the legal community – the judiciary and lawyers – with expectation that they will protect Constitution. For if this is accepted today then it is the end of Rule of Law in Pakistan.”
By postponing Punjab elections till Oct ECP has violated the Constitution. Today everyone must stand behind the legal community – the judiciary & lawyers – with expectation that they will protect Constitution. For if this is accepted today then it is the end of Rule of Law in Pak
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2023
He further said “we dissolved our 2 provincial legislatures with expectation that elections would be held in 90 days as clearly given in our Constitution. We did not take this action to allow a bunch of fascists to impose a reign of terror, violating the Constitution & Rule of Law.”
Also read: Khan speaks of plot to stage mock fight to pretend his killing as accident
