Separate elections will impact outcome of general polls
The joint session of Parliament on Monday adopted a resolution, stressing for the holding of general elections of the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies in the country simultaneously to strengthen the federation.
The two identical resolutions were moved by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Senator Kamran Murtaza aimed to promote political stability and foster unity among the provinces.
The resolutions called for organising general elections of all the assemblies simultaneously across the country.
The resolutions emphasised the significance of appointing neutral caretaker set-ups to ensure impartiality and fairness during the elections.
The resolutions also argued that holding separate elections in Punjab, the largest federating unit with over 50 per cent of the National Assembly seats, would inevitably impact the outcome of general elections to the National Assembly seats in Punjab. Therefore, it could potentially marginalise the smaller provinces’ role in the federation.
The lawmakers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf staged a token walkout from the House chanting, “Hold elections and save the country”.
The resolution comes as the Supreme Court declared as “unconstitutional” the Election Commission of Pakistan decision to postpone polls in the province, in a blow to the government that has been trying to delay the provincial election citing security issues and the economic crisis.
