ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday said that everyone must stand behind the judiciary and lawyers with the expectation that they will protect the country’s Constitution.
Reacting to the postponement of the Punjab elections, Imran Khan said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had violated the country’s Constitution by postponing the provincial elections till October 8.
In a Twitter thread, Imran Khan said, “Today everyone must stand behind the legal community – the judiciary and lawyers – with the expectation that they will protect Constitution.”
By postponing Punjab elections till Oct ECP has violated the Constitution. Today everyone must stand behind the legal community – the judiciary & lawyers – with expectation that they will protect Constitution. For if this is accepted today then it is the end of Rule of Law in Pak
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2023
The former prime minister added, “For if this is accepted today then in Pakistan, it is the end of Rule of Law.”
Imran Khan says will not allow anyone to violate constitution
Imran Khan said that PTI dissolved two provincial assemblies, expecting elections to be held in 90 days, as clearly given in the Constitution of the country. “We did not take this action to allow a group of fascists to impose a reign of terror, violating the Constitution and Rule of Law.”
We dissolved our 2 provincial legislatures with expectation that elections would be held in 90 days as clearly given in our Constitution. We did not take this action to allow a bunch of fascists to impose a reign of terror, violating the Constitution & Rule of Law.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2023
On Wednesday, the electoral body announced the delay of the Punjab elections scheduled for April 30. According to details, the Election Commission withdrew the Punjab Election Program notification issued on March 8, decided to postpone the Punjab provincial assembly election, and announced October 8 as the new date for elections in Punjab.
The electoral body spokesman said that President Dr Arif Alvi has also been informed of the commission’s decision to postpone elections in Punjab, adding that the new polls schedule will release soon.
The ECP spokesperson added that the elections were postponed under Sections 58 and 8C and Article 218(3) of the Election Act, 2017.
The spokesman said that a meeting with all the departments and stakeholder institutions was held to review the schedule of the Punjab election. According to the briefing, the spokesman maintained that it is impossible to hold peaceful elections in the current situation.
