Political crisis in Pakistan; Law Minister demands elections simultaneously across the country

ATLANTA (Pajhwok) Pakistan Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday demanded that elections should be held in the entire country at the same time.

Speaking to international media, the law minister maintained that political parties including Pakistan People’s Party, Muslim League (N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) pleaded with the court to be parties in the case regarding the elections in Punjab but these political parties were neither heard nor made a party in the case.

He said that the constitution stated that the ECP was burdened with the responsibility of conducting elections and that the mechanism for holding elections according to the constitution existed and implying that the court orders were contrary to it.

He said that the security situation in the country was alarming and the security forces were engaged in operations against terrorism.

Political parties and bar councils requested the court to form a full court, which was not approved. If elections were held in Punjab, the National Assembly elections would be affected, he added. He added according to the APP.

Senator Azam Tarar said that many questions were being raised in the country after the decision of the Supreme Court. With reference to the dissolution of assemblies and general elections, the constitution stated that elections should be held within ninety days after dissolution, but there were many schemes in the constitution and many other provisions of the law, he added.