Wrong decision by SC to cause ‘political instability’

On delay in Punjab polls, minister says govt wants to proceed according to Constitution

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said that if the Supreme Court did not make a prudent decision regarding the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponing polls in Punjab, the economic and political stability of the country would be impacted.

In a series of tweets, the minister said that an unwise decision from the apex court would cause anarchy, chaos, and riots across the country.

He said that there were different opinions regarding the election and that parliament had the authority to guide the government and institutions. “The incumbent government wants to proceed according to the Constitution.”

The interior minister stated that on the orders of the SC, the electoral watchdog gave the election schedule, and the government had initiated the process under those directives.

Sanaullah maintained that the government could “not even think” of revoking the top court’s orders.

Sanaullah added that there would be no level-playing field in the National Assembly elections in the presence of the incumbent government after the provincial elections, adding that questions would be raised on the conduct of fair and transparent elections.

The interior minister said that it would be better for the country if the elections of all the assemblies were transparent, fair, and conducted at the same time in the presence of the caretaker governments.