Political parties denounce the Senate resolution on poll deferral as “unconstitutional”
Political parties on Friday rejected the non-binding motion after the Senate approved a resolution calling for a postponement in general elections, claiming that further postponing the election process would be “unconstitutional” with only one month remaining in the highly anticipated polls.
The motion introduced earlier in the day by independent legislator Senator Dilawar Khan, asking for a postponement of polling due to the inclement weather in hilly areas and the worsening security situation, was adopted by the majority of parliamentarians present in the legislature.
Senator Sherry Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stated that the party has a clear position that the elections should not be postponed during a press conference held following the resolution’s approval by the upper house of parliament.
She declared, “We absolutely do not support the delay in elections,” and mentioned that the PPP was against the Senate motion.
PPP legislator Shahadat Awan, who was absent from the meeting, stated that his party is in favor of holding elections regardless of the situation.
This is disobedience to the Constitution. “It was a prearranged action and a plot since the elections needed to be held on schedule,” he declared.
Reiterating that the resolution was brought out under a “plan” because it was outside the purview of today’s Order of Business. According to Senator Awan, the PPP is ready for the election.
“Those who can see their defeat [in elections] want to delay the polls,” he stated.
The Constitution was “violated” in the Senate, according to Sher Afzal Marwat, central leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which did not vote on the motion today. Marwat made this claim to Geo News.
There is no specific provision in the charter for delaying the polls, he continued, adding that “the resolution for delay in general elections is an attack on the Constitution.”
Marwat added that everyone who supported the resolution is covered by Article 6. He said that no one in the Senate could approve a resolution that violates the Constitution.
Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq denounced the Senate resolution’s passage, calling it a plot against democracy and the nation.
He stated, “If democracy is derailed, who will put it back on track?” adding that postponing elections because of instability in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be the same as giving in to the people creating the upheaval.
According to Haq, holding elections on schedule is the best way to guarantee peace and stability in the nation. He declared that on February 8, his party wants the nation to hold free and fair elections.
With just 14 senators present—the only members of the upper chamber out of 100—the resolution proposed by Senator Dilawar was approved.
Senators Gurdeep Singh of the PTI and Behramand Tangi of the PPP did not cast ballots. The Senate chairman adjourned the meeting indefinitely after the vote.
When a parliament is dissolved, elections are scheduled to take place in ninety days; however, the polls in all five legislative branches have not yet been held and have already exceeded the constitutional limit.
The elections for the KP and Punjab assemblies, which were dissolved in January of last year, have not taken place for almost a year, and the polls for the national, Balochistan, and Sindh assemblies have already beyond their expiration dates.
A case was also filed in the Supreme Court due to concerns about potential delays. As a result, the highest court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi to provide a date, which they did on February 8.
Nonetheless, a few political figures have expressed worries on both the weather and the security situation. They assert that they want their issues resolved and do not want a delay.
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