resolution<\/a>, seeking to delay the February 8 general election, passed by the Senate on Friday was condemned by politicians and lawyers, who termed it a \u201cconspiracy against democracy\u201d and asserted that polls be held on time.<\/p>\nThe non-binding resolution was moved by independent Senator Dilawar Khan during a session with only 15 lawmakers in attendance. The Upper House of the Parliament has a total of 100 members.<\/p>\n
In a statement, PPP\u2019s Senator Taj Haider condemned the resolution and termed it a \u201cconspiracy against democracy\u201d. He said that a \u201cbomb was dropped\u201d on the upper house of Parliament.<\/p>\n
He also blasted Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for \u201cplaying a conspiratorial role today\u201d and making the Senate the \u201cconspiracy\u2019s base\u201d.<\/p>\n
Haider said the resolution was not on today\u2019s agenda, adding that a motion would be tabled to reject today\u2019s resolution.<\/p>\n
PPP\u2019s Naveed Qamar also \u201cstrongly condemned the attempt to postpone polls through a senate resolution in the waning minutes of the session\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PPP strongly believes in the Constitution and following the electoral process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Holding a press conference in Karachi on the issue, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman reiterated the same. She said that the party had a clear stance on timely elections and that there should be uncertainty in the country.<\/p>\n
She said she was issuing the clarification on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardaro\u2019s instructions, adding that the party had not supported any delay in holding general elections.<\/p>\n
Rehman said no senior PPP leader was present in the Senate when the resolution was passed and it did not have any party leader\u2019s signatures.<\/p>\n
She said the PPP was aware the country was going through difficult times but the Constitution, the law and the Supreme Court\u2019s orders still needed to be kept in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no confusion on the path ahead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Rehman asserted that with only a few Senators present at the time, the resolution \u201cdoes not have any legal status\u201d. She further said that a resolution was not a law and could represent the Senate\u2019s will due to a lack of quorum.<\/p>\n
Similarly, PTI\u2019s Barrister Gohar Khan said: \u201cA resolution of 14 senators based on their personal opinions, has no legal or binding force in the constitutional process of holding general elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cElections must take place on time and Supreme Court to enforce its orders and observations regarding February 8 elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PTI said it would not \u201ctolerate even a single day\u2019s delay in holding elections\u201d and implored the Supreme Court to take action on the issue.<\/p>\n
PTI leader Taimur Jhagra said the resolution\u2019s passing was \u201cboth shocking and disgraceful\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf so many of us are standing the heat in the kitchen, why can\u2019t others stand the cold in February?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n
PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the party was clear that polls should be held on Feb 8.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs per the schedule issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, full preparations for the elections are going on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
PML-N stalwart Javed Latif said the desire to postpone the elections through the resolution would not be fulfilled and the party strongly opposed the development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not allow the election to be delayed even for a moment. We are standing in front of all kinds of conspiracies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq said people could not be deprived of their fundamental right to elect their representatives via transparent elections.<\/p>\n
He said the resolution was \u201ca conspiracy against the country and democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPostponing elections due to unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be tantamount to surrendering arms to those spreading unrest,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the resolution, analyst Arifa Noor told Dawn News<\/em> that while it came as a surprise to everyone, such a move was expected.<\/p>\n\u201cIt was predicted that something like this would happen, and now it has. Whether this holds any importance or not, we don\u2019t know,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While talking to the media, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Secretary Syed Ali Imran said the resolution had no worth since the house lacked quorum.<\/p>\n
He asserted that the polls would definitely go ahead on Feb 8 and the SCBA stood by the apex court\u2019s order on no further election delays.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii told Dawn.com<\/em> that the resolution had exposed those who \u201ctabled it, voted for it, allowed for it to be tabled and the people they thought they were appeasing by doing all this\u201d.<\/p>\nHe added that it had \u201cno value other than this self-exposure\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Muhammad Ahmad Pansota said the \u201copinion\u201d passed today was \u201cunconstitutional\u201d since it violated numerous constitutional articles and provisions mandating the holding of elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also violative of the basic spirit of the Constitution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same senator that pushed for the trial of civilians in military courts now wants elections to be delayed,\u201d lawyer Rida Hosain said.<\/p>\n
She added that it was the Constitution that determined when elections were to be held, \u201cnot senators passing utterly disgraceful and undemocratic resolutions\u201d.<\/p>\n
Advocate Usama Khawar said the resolution was \u201cimproper both constitutionally and politically\u201d and could be \u201cconstrued as an attempt to improperly influence the Supreme Court\u201d.<\/p>\n
Explaining further, he said it was an improper demand because the Senate should demand the formation of the highest political and representative institutions such as the five assemblies instead of a delay.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Ayman Zafar said that with the elections just around the corner, the resolution \u201cnot only creates heightened uncertainty in a nation in dire need of political clarity but also illustrates a perceived disregard for the judgement of the honourable Supreme Court\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe country longs for peace and political stability, elements that can only be ensured through timely elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A resolution, seeking to delay the February 8 general election, passed by the Senate on Friday was condemned by politicians and lawyers, who termed it a \u201cconspiracy against democracy\u201d and asserted that polls be held on time. 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