Towards the end of the constitutional term of caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday asked President Arif Alvi to ask the Supreme Court under advisory jurisdiction. refer to
The PTI leader has asked the President to refer the issue of expiry of the interim government to the country’s highest judiciary, adding that he is involved in taking major policy decisions to affect the conduct of elections in both provinces. have been ordered. Supreme Court
پنجاب اور پختونخوا میں 90 روزہ آئینی مدت کی تکمیل کے بعد نگران حکومتوں کا مستقبل
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 16, 2023
پاکستان تحریک انصاف نے نگران حکومتوں کا معاملہ عدالتِ عظمیٰ کو بھجوانے کی استدعا کردی
مرکزی سینئر نائب صدر @fawadchaudhry کا صدرِ مملکت ڈاکٹر @ArifAlvi کو خط
وفاقی حکومت اور الیکشن کمیشن کی… pic.twitter.com/KJxZEJDRH4
On April 4, the Supreme Court declared the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on October 8 as “unconstitutional” and null and void, and held elections in Punjab on May 14. Ordered.
“After the lapse of 90 days, caretaker governments cannot be called legitimate in any way,” the politician wrote in his letter, calling their presence “a violation of the mandatory constitutional mandates of the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan.” stated.
In his letter, Fawad wrote that interim governments – which can be considered an extension of the electoral body – are introduced for a limited period of 90 days and are responsible for ensuring fair and transparent elections under Article 224 of the Constitution. There are
He added that their sole objective is to facilitate the ECP in conducting free, fair, just and fair elections in accordance with the constitution and law. “Therefore, they only have authority and power to run day-to-day affairs and not to take important policy decisions.”
Meanwhile, the PTI leader added, an interim setup was established in both the provinces after the dissolution of the provincial assemblies. But the current interim governments are involved in taking important policy decisions, including appointments and transfers of officials, to affect the transparency and fairness of elections, against the rules and standards they have set for themselves.
The PTI had dissolved the assemblies of Punjab and KP on January 14 and 18 respectively to force the ruling alliance to hold early general elections.
The former information minister added that the interim set-up in both the provinces has completed its constitutional period and since the constitution does not provide for continuation/extension of the fixed period for the interim set-up, their current existence ” cannot be termed as “legal” and should be made mandatory. Those imposed by the Election Commission should be considered ‘outrageous’ and removed immediately.
“In this situation, it is respectfully requested that you kindly refer the matter to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan under advisory jurisdiction to resolve this manifest unconstitutionality,” the letter read.
It added that due to the “unconstitutional and illegal actions of the ECP and PDM government in Islamabad”, the mandatory time to hold the elections within the stipulated time had lapsed.
Earlier today, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah asserted that despite all the efforts of the opposition PTI, the Punjab Assembly elections will not be held on May 14.
Talking to the media in Faisalabad, he said that this year the elections across the country will be held on time.
Describing former Prime Minister Imran Khan as ‘fitnah’ (chaos), Sanaullah said that he was brought to power through a ‘conspiracy’. “Their [PTI’s] four-year policies created a crisis situation for the country.”
Sanaullah said that Khan used to claim that he would rather die by suicide than approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “It was [Imran Khan’s] government that made the deal with the IMF, not us. The difficulties are only because of the previous government’s deal.”
