Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said that the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the elections in Punjab is in the interest of Pakistan and will guarantee political stability in the country.
The Election Authority announced a day ago to postpone the elections in Punjab till October 8. Elections in the province were to be held on April 30 after President Arif Alvi announced the date in the light of the Supreme Court in consultation with the ECP. The court’s partition decision last month.
Citing its responsibility to ensure fair elections in the country, the Election Organizing Authority in its notification mentioned its various efforts to ensure that the commission discharges its responsibilities diligently.
The Election Commission has taken this decision after consulting all the stakeholders. The ECP took this decision after considering the economic, political and security situation,” he said in a statement.
Aurangzeb said that the commission has to ensure the conduct of transparent, impartial and fair elections in the country under Article 218 of the Constitution.
On the other hand, he added that Article 224 requires that there should be caretaker governments in the federal capital and provincial units at the time of elections. However, when the National Assembly elections are held, governments will be established in two provinces.
Aurangzeb also asserted that if elections had been held in the two provinces on the said date, they would have remained disputed forever.
The minister said that if the elections were held on April 30, the assemblies in Punjab and KP would have ended six months ago, adding that the electoral body has saved Pakistan from a major constitutional crisis by its decision.
Aurangzeb said that the census is going on in Pakistan. He further said that it is not possible to hold elections in Punjab and KP before the census and later in other provinces.
Criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Information Minister said that the Constitution cannot operate on the will of one person.
“He can violate the constitution whenever he wants and dissolve the assembly any way he wants – it won’t work,” the minister – who is also the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader – said.
He taunted him for attacking the police, attacking the ECP and vandalizing the court.
Aurangzeb said there were reservations that because of one man’s ego forced elections were being imposed on two provinces.
