Shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed a meeting of coalition partners ahead of a Supreme Court deadline, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry told the government Wednesday to either amend the Constitution or hold elections to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies in line with the top court’s order.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is saying elections should be held in October, whereas the Constitution says polls should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies,” he said in a tweet.
Therefore, the government should either take the matter to the Parliament and amend the Constitution by a two-thirds majority or hold the elections, he said.
“The Constitution cannot be suspended through mere statements and resolutions. The attitude of not following the Constitution is unacceptable.”
The PTI had dissolved the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies in January in a bid to force early general elections but the Shehbaz-led government has not given in to the demand.
Reacting to the comments, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the apex court was indeed not a panchayat and announced the verdict in the case of the election after interpreting the Constitution.
Talking to a private news channel, he noted that the SC asked political parties to discuss a date for elections. “Ministers promised [to do it] … but the government refuses to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict.
