PML-N warns of legal action if Senate elections held earlier

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday warned the government of legal action if early elections for the Senate are called. 

Addressing the media, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said it would be unconstitutional if Senate elections are held before February 11. "If the schedule for the Senate election is released before February 11, we will approach the court."

When asked whether the court would take up the issue, Sanaullah responded: "When such a time comes, the entire opposition will decide together."

A day earlier, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz criticised the government over its intentions to prepone the Senate elections by a month and holding by-elections in case the opposition resigned from the assemblies.

At a press conference in Lahore, Maryam accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of “destroying” the national institution for his own benefit, repeating her earlier claims that the government had weakened and any change in the Senate election schedule would not save it from falling.

“In what capacity did Imran Khan decide to hold Senate elections a month ago? Didn’t anyone tell you [prime minister] that you can’t make election announcements,” she said. “You cannot distort the Constitution for personal gains and we will not allow it.”

Maryam’s press conference comes after reports emerged that the government had decided to hold Senate elections in February, instead of March 2021. The government had also decided to move the apex court regarding the voting through “show of hands”.