ISLAMABAD (HRNW) – The federal government on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) to review its order of holding elections in Punjab on May 14.
The federal government and the Punjab caretaker government submitted their replies before court.
The federal government stated that it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold free and fair elections in the country, adding that the SC made the authority of the ECP ineffective by ordering the date itself.
If elections were held in Punjab, it could affect the elections in the National Assembly (NA), it stated.
The federal government went on to say that Punjab had the highest number of seats in the National Assembly, adding that it decided the government in the centre. “Elections should be held simultaneously with the NA,” it added.
Punjab chief secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, in the reply, stated that it was not the SC’s prerogative to announce the date for elections, adding that the apex court violated the constitution by announcing the date. “Article 218 allows the ECP to hold free and fair elections,” it added.
The SC did not announce the date for elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), it stated.
Mr Zaman went on to state that it was incumbent upon the ECP to change the elections’ schedule, adding that the province’s security situation changed after May 9 events. “As many as 545,000 security personnel are required for holding elections, but only 77,000 will be available if elections are held now,” it added.