{"id":44677,"date":"2024-01-06T19:40:56","date_gmt":"2024-01-06T19:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/all-sides-united-in-their-opposition-to-poll-delay\/"},"modified":"2024-01-06T19:40:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-06T19:40:56","slug":"all-sides-united-in-their-opposition-to-poll-delay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/all-sides-united-in-their-opposition-to-poll-delay\/","title":{"rendered":"All sides united in their opposition to poll delay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>\u2022 PTI calls on top court to enforce its orders, foil delaying tactics<br \/>\u2022 PPP vows to probe why their senator did not oppose resolution<br \/>\u2022 Caretaker minister says no official decision to delay polls, ECP will have final say<\/p>\n<p>ISLAMABAD: The non-binding resolution <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1803458\/amid-thin-attendance-senate-passes-resolution-seeking-delay-in-elections\">adopted<\/a> by the Senate on Friday, which calls for the February 8 polls to be delayed, was roundly criticised by leaders and parties from across the political spectrum, while the caretaker information minister insists that there was no directive of the prime minister or the federal cabinet for delay.<\/p>\n<p>Demanding that the Supreme Court take immediate notice of the resolution passed by the Senate, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He saw the \u201cattempt by some political parties to defer the much-needed polls beyond the scheduled date of February 8 by using the floor of Senate [as] tantamount to [an] attack on Constitution and democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>According to a statement issued by the party\u2019s central media department, the erstwhile party chairman insisted that the passage of the resolution was a violation of the order of the Supreme Court (SC) and amounted to contempt of court. He called on the top court to take effective and remedial measures to foil attempts to delay or affect the transparency and fairness of elections.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1799588\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>He also called on the apex court to \u201cenforce its orders and observations regarding February 8 elections in the country\u201d, adding that his party was \u201cfully prepared\u201d for general elections Arguing that it was the constitutional obligation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government to conduct free, fair and transparent elections within the constitutionally mandated time frame, he said that those scared of the elections had violated the sanctity of the upper house of parliament by passing an unconstitutional resolution.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PPP to seek explanation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Peoples Party seemed to be in a Catch-22 situation after the passage of the Senate resolution, since it was not opposed by the sole party senator in the house at the time, leading the party to distance itself from his stance and vowing to seek explanation from him.<\/p>\n<p>This clarification came hours after the resolution was passed in the upper house. PPP\u2019s Behra\u00admand Tangi, who was in the Senate at the time, did not opp\u00adose it, rather abstained from voting.<\/p>\n<p>Thereafter, at a press conference, Senator Sherry Rehman made it clear that the party wanted timely elections and it had \u201cspecial directives\u201d from Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to clear the air after the passage of the resolution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSenator Tangi has informed the party that he had opposed the resolution,\u201d she said, while addressing a press conference at Bilawal House. \u201cBut still, we would look into things like video clips and other evidence to assess the factual situation. If his stance is not found to be satisfactory, then definitely we would seek an explanation from him.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1796898\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The PPP leader also tried to downplay the impact of the resolution, saying that it didn\u2019t carry any weight as the house failed the meet the quorum requirements for such a move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst we need to understand that the resolution isn\u2019t a law,\u201d Senator Rehman said, adding that on Fridays, sessions of the Senate only last for a brief period due to prayer breaks. \u201cThe majority of senators had already left for their homes,\u201d she explained<\/p>\n<p><strong>PML-N<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The PML-N, too, categorically declared that it wants no delay in the Feb 8 polls, saying that it was making preparations for the elections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe PML-N\u2019s decision is categorical \u2014 polls should be held on Feb 8  according to the schedule of the Election Commission of Pakistan  (ECP),\u201d party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said on X (formerly  Twitter) on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Another PML-N leader, Javed  Latif, said the backdoor conspiracy in the Senate to postpone elections  would not succeed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe PML-N strongly  opposes the Senate resolution to  delay elections. We are standing firmly against this conspiracy and will  not let it succeed. Delay in the polls even for a minute is not  acceptable,\u201d he said and added the resolution was brought from the  backdoor which was also an insult to the upper house.<\/p>\n<p>PML-N  Senator Irfan Siddiqui also said the so-called resolution did not represent  any party in the Senate. \u201cIn the House of 100, a handful members\u2019  opinion can\u2019t be termed as that of the majority.  The PML-N does not see  this resolution a representation of the Senate nor in favour of any  delay in polls for the interest of the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jamaat-i-Islami<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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<p>He said the resolution was \u201ca conspiracy against the country and democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPostponing elections due to unrest in Balochistan and Khy\u00adber Pakhtunkhwa will be tanta\u00admo\u00adunt to surrendering arms to those spreading unrest,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Caretaker govt<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Talking  to reporters outside Parliament House, caretaker Minister for  Information Murtaza Solangi said he did not get a chance to present his arguments over the resolution.<\/p>\n<p>However, he made it clear that  there were no directives from the prime minister or the federal cabinet regarding a delay.<\/p>\n<p>According to Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan is empowered to conduct elections,  give a date or change the date for elections, he said, adding,  \u201cWe cannot  interfere in the affairs of a constitutional body,\u201d Mr Solangi said.<\/p>\n<p>Acknowledging that the problems mentioned in the resolution were genuine, he  said that the same issues had been encountered before in Pakistan\u2019s parliamentary politics and elections.<\/p>\n<p>The minister  maintained that it was the government\u2019s responsibility to look into issues such as harsh weather and other matters, including the provision of security.   \u201cSo far, no signal has been received from any quarters regarding  postponement of elections, \u201c he said.<\/p>\n<p><em>Syed Irfan Raza, Zulqernain Tahir in Lahore and Imran Ayub in Karachi also contributed to this report<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2022 PTI calls on top court to enforce its orders, foil delaying tactics\u2022 PPP vows to probe why their senator did not oppose resolution\u2022 Caretaker minister says no official decision to delay polls, ECP will have final say ISLAMABAD: The non-binding resolution adopted by the Senate on Friday, which calls for the February 8 polls 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