MM News

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Defence has reportedly requested the Supreme Court to conduct general elections across the country in one go, raising concerns among opposition circles that none of the state institution except Supreme Court wants to following the Constitution for holding elections within 90- days time after the dissolution of assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ministry is authorized to provide security for elections in the country. The plea filed before the court stated that the general elections to the National and all Provincial Assemblies should be held together after the completion of the term of the National and the other two Provincial Assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan. Interestingly, no such provision is available in the Constitution of Pakistan.

The request came just hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Finance Ministry submitted their reports in the apex court. The reports stated that there were no funds available for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following the dissolution of assemblies in January this year.

It is worth mentioning that on April 5, the apex court had ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections in Punjab on May 14. The federal government was also directed to release Rs21 billion in funds for holding elections until April 10, after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) moved the court against the delay in the elections.

It now remains to be seen as to how the Supreme Court would respond to this plea and what steps would be taken to ensure free and fair elections in the country.