Azam Nazeer Tarar says ECP made “right move” by withdrawing election schedule in Punjab
ISLAMABAD
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has described the ECP decision to defer elections for Punjab Assembly as “the right one”, saying assembly elections would have brought more political instability in Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, the law minister said the ECP’s decision was in accordance with the prevailing situation as there was a security challenge as well as economic crisis in the country.
Tarar said that according to the Constitution, elections to the national and provincial assemblies are held in the country simultaneously. He said that there was a political crisis in the country, adding that two provincial assemblies had fallen victim to the ego of one person.
“Terrorism has once again been imposed on the country. It had been eliminated from the country,” he added. “Before the general elections, a caretaker setup is installed,” he stated.
“The election commission has taken the right decision by postponing the elections. There is a severe economic crisis in the country. The question of transparency will not arise with simultaneous elections,” he emphasised.
“The decision of the election commission is in accordance with the objective circumstances of the country. Currently, there is a security challenge and economic crisis,” he pointed out.
“In the past, the caretaker setup in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained for more than five months. Since 1997, elections to the national and provincial assemblies have been held simultaneously,” he added.
“It is the constitutional responsibility of the election commission that the elections are transparent and impartial. At the same time, there will be a level playing field in the election. In view of the country’s economic and security situation, the election date has been given in October,” he averred.
