ISLAMABAD, (NNI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced its intention to file a contempt of court petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the ECP’s review petition regarding the conduct of elections in Punjab.
According to a PTI spokesperson, the ECP has committed a clear deviation from the constitution in regards to the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The spokesperson stated that PTI took the constitutional and democratic step of dissolving the assemblies in Punjab and Pakhtunkhwa while staying within the limits of the constitution. In case of premature dissolution of the assemblies, the constitution obliges the ECP to hold elections within 90 days. However, after a detailed hearing, the Supreme Court interpreted the constitutional order of elections in 90 days and made the ECP bound to hold the elections in Punjab on May 14.
Despite this, the ECP took what PTI describes as a “criminal step” by postponing the elections for an indefinite period instead of following the intent of the Constitution and the order of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s detailed decision on the matter described and explained what PTI calls “the criminal role” of the ECP.
Even during the hearing on the revision petition, PTI claims that the ECP completely failed to satisfy the court on its anti-constitutional actions. The Supreme Court’s rejection of the ECP’s review petition against its April 4 decision is, according to PTI, an indictment against the ECP.
PTI also alleges that after the dissolution of the National Assembly, it is obvious to the nation that the ECP has an agenda to deviate from the Constitution in regards to national elections. The party calls for an end to what it describes as “the continuous deviance from the constitution and depriving citizens of their basic right to vote by an organization responsible for conducting clean and transparent elections in the country.”
PTI will file a contempt of court petition against both Chief Election Commissioner and its members in Supreme Court and demand their strict accountability. The party hopes that this action will bring attention to what it sees as unconstitutional behavior by an organization responsible for upholding democratic principles. NNI
