Pakistan: The matter of provincial elections

It has been reported that the consultation meeting between Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and the Election Commission officials regarding the provincial assembly elections has been inconclusive. According to the report, the governor of Punjab says that he has not dissolved the assembly, so he has not given the date for the elections. He is not authorized. If the position of the Governor is correct, then the Election Commission should end the series of unnecessary delays.

On the other hand, the 3-member bench of the Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to implement the order of the High Court regarding the date of elections in Punjab during the hearing of the appeals against the de-seating of the defected members of PTI in Punjab. Law said that the Election Commission officials had a meeting with the Governor of Punjab, in which the Governor of Punjab asked to take the legal route against the order of the Lahore High Court. Do you want to take it or the Election Commission? DG Law replied that the legal way should be taken by the Governor. Justice Ayesha Malik, included in the bench, inquired why the Election Commission is giving advice for the elections. Does the Constitution oblige the Election Commission to consult the Governor before the elections? DG Law Election Commission said that the Lahore High Court has also asked for consultation with the Governor in the order.

Tehreek-e-Insaf has demanded fresh elections from the government by calling the no-confidence movement a conspiracy against the Imran government. This demand was considered politically and legally correct as the PDM and its allied parties in the National Assembly do not have the required number of members to form the government. Tehreek-e-Insaaf says that actions were started from many aspects to harm it. A group of PTI members declared they angry and became supporters of PDM instead of the party leadership. The legislation passed in the Parliament. In this, the angry faction could not take a stand according to the wishes of the people. The position of the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly is held by the same group. There is support for new elections within the PDM parties, but the personal interests of the party leaders are more important. About 130 members of Tehreek-e-Insaf had resigned from the National Assembly. By-elections were held on the seats, but then changing interests presented the issue of resignations with a new statement every day.

Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Insaf resolved the issue through a long march. In the Long March, there was a murderous attack on Imran Khan. After this attack, although the series of processions and meetings stopped, the demand for holding elections began to gain more support at the public level. Dissolution of the assemblies took place on the announcement of the Chief Minister. The governors of both provinces excused themselves from signing the notification, but since the governor could not create any constitutional obstacle, this decision was overruled. The Constitution provides guidance in this situation and says: "When the National Assembly or the Provincial Assembly is dissolved, a general election for the Assembly should be held within 90 days from the date of dissolution." The results of this election will be announced within 14 days of the completion of the election process. This can be taken to mean that no role of the Governor has been kept for the elections. Considering this constitutional position, the order of Lahore High Court on February 10, 2023 is enough to end the crisis. The PTI approached the Lahore High Court for the date of the elections. In its decision, it was written that the Election Commission should issue a notification of the date of the election after consulting the Governor of Punjab. Statements of non-preparation for election duty were issued by the commission and other related institutions on the same day, which created an impression on the public level that the government is preventing the institutions from holding the election by applying pressure. It is true that the country is suffering from economic crisis. In this situation, the expenses of repeated elections can be a burden on the public exchequer. It is better to see the interest of the country instead of political interests. Political parties agree that there is an economic crisis in the country. Every Pakistani is aware of the reasons for political stability. The holding of elections is becoming a public demand. It is better that PDM and Tehreek-e-Insaf should increase communication to reduce their differences. The Election Commission should keep its role under the constitution. The major cause of crises in Pakistan has been deviation from the constitution. The more the government delays the holding of elections through legal clarifications instead of following the constitution; there is a fear of increasing the severity of the crisis.