By: Asem Mustafa Awan
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the Pakistan Day ceremony has said that the future of the country lies in going by the Constitution according to its spirit. “We have to create unity in our ranks,” he said.
The ideas, which the Prime Minister expressed are ideal, and the nation wants to see them getting realized. These views are seen in connection with the postponement of the elections in two provinces of the country.
The government and its subsidiaries have told the Election Commission that they are unable to provide funds and necessary manpower.
During the last 11 months, the government has relied on two measures to improve the state of the economy. Efforts were made to get the next installment of the bailout package from the IMF while at the same time the impression is created that the loan from the IMF and its conditions are the reasons for the deterioration of the Pakistani economy.
Another issue that the government has emphasized is the increase in tax revenue but during the process the finance ministers, firstly Miftah Ismail and then Ishaq Dar, the thing that two forgot was the rate of profit is inversely proportional to the production process.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) policies have exacerbated the economic crisis, and besides losing public support and commoner condition speaks volumes of this.
It is evident from the fact the government doesn’t want to hold fresh elections as the public will react against them. The Constitution of Pakistan clearly states that fresh elections should be held within 90 days of the assembly’s dissolution. Democracy in one form or the other faced many a dilemmas and was repeatedly trampled on one pretext or the other but it is an interesting fact that in case of death or resignation of a Member of the Assembly, election is held on the vacant seat within the specified period, there is never any dispute over it.
However, now in the PDM’s era, holding of polls have been sidestepped from on frivolous excuses.
The only incident that resulted in delay was the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto in 2007 while prior to that in the nineties the constitution was followed and respected and 90-day rule was observed.
The prime minister says the future of the country lies in going by the constitution so the people who form part of his government should know that postponing the election will be considered an undemocratic and unconstitutional measure.
The Supreme Court has ordered to hold elections in Punjab on 30 April 2023. The Election Commission is a constitutionally independent body whose sole function is to conduct transparent elections. Regarding the current election commission, it was thought many times that it is not taking its decisions by itself but at the behest of the PDM government. Continuous postponement of local body elections in Islamabad, and the fiasco during by-elections in Karachi all have been reported.
The resignations of Tehreek-e-Insaf members from the National Assembly and Election Commission’s role left a lot to be desired.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is talking about the sanctity of the Constitution and his words should ring a bell to all those who think otherwise.