PTI slams ECP for delaying meeting on Punjab polls

Fawad warns electoral body not to make a 'joke' of the constitution and court orders

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not holding its meeting to discuss the Punjab elections today despite being directed by the court.

The PTI leader said that there is a general impression that "since the ECP is made up of munshis, it will not hold provincial elections as it did in Islamabad".

He warned the electoral watchdog "not to make a joke of the constitution and court orders", saying that such "fiddling with the constitution" will cost the country dearly.

 

الیکشن کمیشن کو انتخابات کیلئے آج اجلاس منعقد کرنا چاہئے تھا،آئین اور عدالتی احکامات کو مذاق نہ بنائیں،عدالت کے واضع احکامات کے بعد بھی عام تاثر ہے کہ چونکہ الیکشن کمیشن منشیوں پر مشتمل ہے اسلام آباد کی طرح صوبائ الیکشن بھی نہیں کرائے گا ۔آئین کے ساتھ یہ کھلواڑملک کو مہنگا پڑے گا

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 12, 2023

"The constitution is our only agreed document," Fawad tweeted, adding that if the constitution is trampled, Pakistan will be in "serious danger".

Read PTI chief hails LHC decision on Punjab polls

"Enough is enough, our movement for the supremacy of the constitution is ready. This movement will start with Jail Bharo [movement] and continue until the constitution is restored," he said.

 

ہمارے پاس آئین ہی متفقہ دستاویز ہے اگر آئین کو بھی روند دیا گیا تو پاکستان کی ریاست شدید خطرات کا شکار ہو جائیگی ، بہت ہو گیا آئین کی بالادستی کیلئے ہماری تحریک بالکل تیار ہے جیل بھرو سے اس تحریک کا آغاز ہو گا اور آئین کی بحالی تک تحریک جاری رہے گی

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 12, 2023

On Friday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered the ECP to immediately announce the date of elections to the Punjab Assembly after consultation with the governor, in his capacity as the constitutional head of the province, to ensure that polls were held not later than 90 days as per the mandate of the constitution.

ECP to meet tomorrow

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has summoned a high-level meeting on February 13 (tomorrow) at the commission’s secretariat to deliberate over and finalise the schedule of the Punjab Assembly elections in light of the LHC's orders.

The meeting will review the decision of the LHC and will decide its future course of action and the implementation of the verdict for holding the general election to the provincial assembly.

Read More Caretaker Punjab CM violates election code

The poll supervisory body has been facing louder calls to announce the date for elections, chiefly from the PTI and, more recently, from President Dr Arif Alvi who has urged the commission to immediately issue the election schedule for Punjab and K-P provincial assemblies.

In a letter addressed to CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, President Alvi had said that the election of an assembly is to be held within 90 days of the dissolution as provided by Article 224 (2) of the constitution.

(With additional input from Radio Pakistan)