Islamabad: The Senate on Monday approved the resolution demanding countrywide elections on the same day.
The resolution was approved by the majority vote in the upper house of the parliament. National Party Senator Tahir Bizenjo moved the resolution, saying that if the Punjab elections were held now they would cast negative impact on all others.
During a recent session, it was debated that simultaneous general elections for all assemblies were crucial to achieving political and economic stability in Pakistan. The resolution moved by Tahir Bazenjo emphasized that conducting separate elections in Punjab would unfairly influence the results of the general elections, which would be a disservice to the smaller provinces.
It also invoked the spirit of Article 280 to call for elections to be held under neutral caretaker setups as stipulated in the constitution.
“The federal will be more powerful if the elections of the National Assembly and all four provinces are held on the same day,” said the Senator.
Senator Mushtaq, however, said that all the assemblies should be dissolved and general elections should be announced across the country.
He said that delay in elections was now allowed under the Constitution.
“Holding elections within 90 days is mandatory under the Constitution. So follow the law. Dissolve all the assemblies and hold elections the same day,” said Senator Mushtaq.
The opposition leaders protested against the approval of the resolution and chanted slogans against the government. They stood up from their seats, gathered in front of the chair of the Senate Chairman and showed strong reaction.
Opposition Leader Shehzad Wasim strongly reacted to he approval of the resolution, saying that “ it is like stabbing in the back”.
He questioned the process of approving a resolution and demanded the government to present the resolution again.
“They utter “Eye” as if they are in the pain,” he added.
The opposition leader said that this resolution was worthless and was tantamount to injustice, and rejected the resolution.
“First they attacked the judiciary and now they are ruining the parliament. They have stabbed in the back of the opposition,”.
Last week, a Supreme Court (SC) three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial set aside the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and fixed May 14 as the election date in Punjab.
The top court had also directed the federal government to provide funds to the ECP as well as the security for elections in Punjab.
Under the SC order, the federal government was bound to provide funds to the ECP on April 10 while the electoral body was ordered to submit report before the apex court on April 11.
On Sunday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had warned countrywide protests if the elections were not held as per the directives of the apex court.
“I think they are running away from the elections,” said Imran Khan, asking his party leaders and workers to get read to get back to the roads again.
