The Election Commission of Pakistan in a surprise move on Monday once again postponed the by-elections for two months and announced August 18 as the new date for the electoral exercise.
The commission cited prevailing law and order situation in the country and the upcoming annual budget sessions of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies as the main reason for the delay.
However, when contacted, Commission Secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad told The News that Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq could review the postponement decision after reassessing the security situation and evaluating the political parties’ feedback.
The secretary pointed out that the decision was taken in view of the NWFP interior secretary’s report, in which a grim picture of law and order was painted. Dilshad said the new election schedule would be announced shortly. However, candidates who had already filed their nomination papers were not required to repeat the exercise.
The by-elections are to be held for 30 provincial assemblies’ seats and eight seats of the National Assembly. The commission’s announcement through a statement came as a surprise for all and sundry, but the secretary defended the decision, saying this was done in view of the law and order and the security situation and the new budget to be presented in parliament and then in the four provincial assemblies.
The by-elections will now be held on August 18. Earlier by-elections were postponed from June 3 to June 18.
When asked why the decision was not announced by holding a news conference instead of issuing a short statement, the secretary’s terse reply was, “There was no need to hold a briefing. Issuing of a statement was sufficient.”
Meanwhile, political parties including major coalition partners — the PPP and the PML-N — slammed the Election Commission for this unexpected decision, as they had made preparations to take part in the electoral exercise.
They announced that the decision might be challenged in the court of law. “It appears that anti-democratic forces are active again and want to trigger apprehensions and uncertainty about democracy,” one politician at the Parliament House remarked.
Agencies add: Information Minister Sherry Rehman, reacting to the postponement of the by-elections, said on Monday the PPP and the PML-N have serious reservations over the postponement of the by-elections.
Talking to the media at the Parliament House, she blamed the Election Commission for failing to take the political parties into confidence over the matter, and termed the postponement a “well-planned conspiracy to divide democratic forces”.
She said the government would move the Supreme Court on the issue. Sherry Rehman condemned the unilateral decision taken by the Election Commission and expressed doubts about the cancellation of the by-elections.
Another major coalition party, the PML-N, viewed the polls postponement decision a conspiracy against the ruling coalition. “Neither the PML-N nor the PPP was taken into confidence on such an important decision by the Election Commission,” PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooque said while talking to the state-owned TV.
He said his party along with the PPP would challenge the decision in the court. The PML-N spokesman said the Election Commission’s plea of the security situation in the country and the upcoming budget did not hold ground as the situation in the country was far better than it was during the February elections.
This is a lame excuse to delay the elections. Furthermore, he said, the Election Commission had nothing to do with the budgetary preparations. He categorically stated that his party was prepared to contest the by-elections.
PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also condemned postponement of the by-elections. In a statement, Asif Zardari demanded to know the real reasons behind the decision, saying: “The reasons cited by the election commission did not appear credible.”
The PPP co-chairman said holding of the by-elections within 60 days of a seat falling vacant was a constitutional requirement under Article 224 (4) of the Constitution. As such the postponement for the second time was intriguing, as it was in conflict with the constitutional requirement, he said.
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar also expressed surprise and dismay over the election commission’s move. “The PPP is surprised and dismayed over the decision and party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the decision of the postponement,” Farhatullah Babar told a private television.
He said Asif Ali Zardari would take up this issue with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and apprise him about serious reservations of the party over the postponement. Farhatullah Babar criticised the election commission for rescheduling the by-elections again and again.
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