A day after the Senate adopted a resolution advocating for a delay in the February 8 general elections, a new resolution was presented on Saturday, underscoring the importance of adhering to “constitutional requirements” and ensuring the timely conduct of the polls.
On Friday, the upper house of the parliament had passed a resolution seeking to postpone the elections due to security concerns.
PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khan opposed the non-binding resolution, moved by independent Senator Dilawar Khan during a session with only 15 lawmakers present.
Subsequently, the passage of the resolution faced criticism from various political parties, with the caretaker information minister insisting that there was no directive from the prime minister or the federal cabinet for a delay.
In the latest development, JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan submitted a new resolution in the Senate secretariat, urging that the polls should be conducted on time.
The inclusion of the resolution in the agenda of the upcoming Senate session remains uncertain, as the date for the session has not been confirmed.
“I introduce this resolution in the house, asserting that conducting elections is a constitutional requirement. It is the fundamental responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker government to ensure the timely holding of elections,” reads the draft of the resolution.
The resolution further stated that a verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the polls was in effect, while the ECP had also announced that elections would be held on Feb 8, 2024.
It termed the resolution passed on Friday by the Senate seeking a delay in polls as “unconstitutional and undemocratic.”
The JI senator’s resolution emphasized that the Senate lacked the authority to act contrary to constitutional mandates.
“Therefore, this resolution calls for the insistence that free and fair elections be conducted in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” it asserted.
The resolution further called for ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and urged the nullification of the resolution passed by the upper house on Friday.
Meanwhile, Senator Dilawar denied presenting the resolution for poll delay at someone’s direction, emphasizing that the resolution wasn’t introduced abruptly. He clarified that extensive consultations had taken place on the matter with the Balochistan Awami Party.
“The resolution was put forward following a consensus within the BAP,” he emphasized, noting that, aside from the PML-N, no other party opposed the resolution. “We didn’t present it on anyone’s instructions,” he asserted.
In the same program, BAP Secretary-General Senator Manzoor Kakar said that a four-month delay in elections wouldn’t be detrimental. He called on all political parties to unite in support of the resolution passed by the Senate.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said that polls in the country will be held as per schedule whoever may have been behind the resolution.
Talking to the media after appearing before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday, the former information minister said that PML-N was the only party that opposed the resolution.
“Elections will be on February 8 [even if] other parties cry or shout,” said Marriyum. She also claimed that her party’s arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was behind the resolution.
Marriyum said the PTI under a well-thought-out plan first approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) and now moved the resolution in the Senate.
