PPP, PML-N threaten agitation if elections are delayed

Both parties will approach the Supreme Court against high courts' decisions after legal consultations

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have threatened agitation if the general elections are not held on time.

PPP and PML-N have devised strategies after provincial courts nullified delimitations in various districts and rejected the nomination papers made by the parliamentary committee.

Under their strategy, the PPP and PML-N will approach the Supreme Court (SC) after legal consultations.

The two parties will file constitutional petitions independently. They will appeal the apex court to issue orders that the elections be held on July 25. The top brass of both parties have decided, through mutual consultation, that masses will be contacted in case of delay in elections.

Both parties can start a protest movement in consultation with their allies.

PPP leadership has tasked former opposition leader Khursheed Shah to contact other parties and learn about their plans and strategies. The party will be adopting on a legal and constitutional way to deal with the situation, sources close to the party revealed.

The PML-N leadership has also decided to consult the Supreme Court after consultation with its allies. Sources said that in view of the concerns PPP and PML-N are likely to consult each other as well. PPP Central Leader Nafeesa Shah told The Express Tribune that the party leadership has expressed concerns about the potential delay in elections.

Spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that chances of delay are slim. "PTI understands that the elections should be held on time," Chaudhry reiterated adding that PTI will also take up the case legally if there is a delay in elections.



PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haque said that he met with the election commission officials where they stated that with the way high courts were canceling delimitations, it would be very difficult to hold elections on time. Haque said that the ECP authorities informed him that they were reviewing legalities on the issue.

The ECP further confirmed that the elections will be held on time, and a constitutional means will be adopted to tackle hurdles. Sources within the ECP revealed the commission was reviewing the court decisions of dismissing the delimitations and nomination forms.