Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali on Monday met his Punjab counterpart Balighur Rehman and caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and agreed that the country could not afford separate elections in current circumstances and, therefore, polls for national and provincial assemblies should be held later this year after the completion of the federal government’s tenure in August.
At the same time, the federal coalition has also declared that there is “no need for new legislation” to take the elections in Punjab and KP beyond 90 days.
The government’s intention not to hold polls in both provinces within 90 days adds to the PTI leadership’s frustration, which has linked its ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ with an inordinate delay in the elections (in Punjab and KP).
“Pakistan can’t afford two separate elections as billions of rupees will be spent on the exercise,” the Punjab governor told reporters here on Monday. He clearly hinted that elections in Punjab and KP would be held once the federal government’s tenure was completed.
“As the general elections are going to take place later this year, demand for an early election in two provinces seems out of place keeping in view economic woes of the country,” Mr Rehman commented.
Law minister says no need for new legislation in case polls delayed beyond 90 days
Talking to journalists on Monday, federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar also maintained that there was no need for new legislation for holding elections (in Punjab and KP) after 90 days. “The respective institutions will have to give solid reasons for not holding elections within 90 days,” he added.
