ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has said it is not considering any proposal to proclaim emergency in the country to delay national or provincial elections while promising to “strictly follow” the constitution to hold all the polls on schedule.
The possibility came up for discussion in certain media segments after Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi secured a vote of confidence in Punjab and officially advised the governor to dissolve the provincial legislature.
The ruling coalition at the center, which is in opposition in Punjab, was trying to prevent the possibility of the assembly’s dissolution. The government is also facing challenges in the southern Sindh province where one of its coalition partners, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), is weighing its political options after demanding a delay in local government elections.
“No proposal related to the proclamation of emergency under the constitution being consideration at any level in the government,” Pakistan’s state minister for law and justice Shahadat Awan told Arab News on Friday while putting the conspiracy theory to rest.
The constitution allows parliament to extend the term of National Assembly for a period of one year in case of a state of emergency in the country, though it requires certain conditions to invoke that power.
“While a Proclamation of Emergency is in force [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] may by law extend the term of the National Assembly for a period not exceeding one year and not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to be in force,” says the constitution.
It also specifies if the imposition of emergency is necessary “due to internal disturbances beyond the powers of a Provincial Government to control, a Resolution from the Provincial Assembly of that Province shall be required.”
The minister said the national elections would be held in October after the National Assembly finishes its five-year term, adding the electoral contest would be held within 90 days in any province where the assembly was dissolved on chief minister’s advice.
“The constitution is very clear on it, so there is no question of any delay whatsoever,” he continued.
Awan maintained the government would “strictly follow” the constitution in all such matters.
“Those who are sitting idly somewhere may be discussing such proposals [regarding the proclamation of emergency], but the coalition administration is not considering it,” he said.
Asked about the option of holding snap polls in the country on former prime minister Imran Khan’s insistence, the minister categorically dismissed the possibility.
“We have to run the country as per the constitution, not on the whim of any individual,” he said.
Awan noted the former premier’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had resigned en masse after the downfall of its administration in a no-trust vote last April while pointing out “the house was still functioning smoothly and had passed crucial public interest legislations.”
“It could be desire of someone to see the dissolution of the National Assembly for snap polls,” he continued, “but practically it isn’t going to happen.”
The minister spoke of a consensus among all coalition partners of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government who wanted to complete their term in office.
