Lahore, Pakistan – The Governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balighur Rehman and Haji Ghulam Ali respectively, met on Monday with the caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss the current state of the country and its ability to hold separate elections. The Governors agreed that the country cannot afford to hold two separate elections, considering the economic state of the nation, and therefore the polls for both national and provincial assemblies should be held later this year after the federal government’s tenure ends in August.
The federal coalition has also expressed its stance on the matter, stating that there is no need for new legislation to take the elections in the two provinces beyond 90 days. However, the decision to delay the elections is causing frustration for the PTI leadership, who have linked their ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ with the delay.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar spoke to journalists, saying that the institutions must provide solid reasons for not holding elections within 90 days. The Governors advised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consult relevant authorities and take stock of the current security and economic situation before deciding the matter.
A reliable source within the federal government stated that all coalition partners are in agreement to hold general elections on national and provincial assemblies on one date, likely to be in October or November. The federal coalition, led by PML-N, will use all resources to frustrate the PTI’s demand to hold elections in both provinces within 90 days.
It has been over 20 days since the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa dissolved both houses at the request of PTI Chief Imran Khan. The PTI has informed the Shehbaz Sharif administration that it may attend the Feb 9 multi-party conference on militancy, provided the government stops the victimization of its leaders and gives a date for elections in the two provinces. There is currently a sense of despondency in the PTI ranks due to quitting national, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
