F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry has said his party will challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the date for general elections in Punjab from April 30 to October 8 in the Supreme Court (SC).
Addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, Fawad, flanked by PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, announced that they are moving the top court against the ECP for “breaching the Constitution”. “There is no other option but to hold elections on April 30,” insisted the PTI stalwart. He added that the former ruling party’s petition would seek the court’s order for holding elections in the province as per the previous schedule.
Turning his guns towards Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government, Fawad said that the joint sitting of parliament convened on Wednesday was aimed at an “attack on the Supreme Court”. It is pertinent to mention here that the joint session was held yesterday instead of 10th of next month to “take important decisions” to enforce the state’s authority. The session was convened in the midst of prolonged anti-government defiance by PTI Chairman Imran Khan. National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, while exercising his powers under Joint Sitting Rules 1973, had made a change in the schedule of the joint session of parliament.
“Judges are being blackmailed and pressurised,” Fawad claimed. Expressing his solidarity with the apex court and its judges, the PTI senior leader said that millions of people stand with the CJP and other judges of the apex court.
“It is your duty to save the Constitution,” Fawad appealed to the judges of the top court. Expressing his surprise, the former information minister said they were not part of the agenda of yesterday’s sitting, adding that the “main target” of the parliament’s session was the Supreme Court. Fawad further said that they are ready for talks on the elections.
