Thread by @Hamzakk

Pakistan's govt. and Election Commission are unconstitutionally blocking elections in Punjab and KP provinces beyond the 90 day limit set out in Article 224(2) of the constitution.

#ElectionsIn90Days
#NationStandswithCJP

Here are the facts:
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On the 14th and 18th of January, the provincial assemblies of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces in Pakistan were dissolved by the Chief Ministers under Art. 112 of the constitution.

Articles 224(2) mandates that elections within 90 days of dissolution of provincial assemblies. This was reiterated by a decision of the Supreme Court (SC), which directed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is bound to hold elections within the stipulated time limit.

However, the ECP has delayed the elections for 6 months, ignoring the order of the SC and casually disregarding the constitution for spurious reasons of "security" and "finances". The govt. is now threatening to block elections and have expressed “no-confidence” in the courts.

If elections are delayed, voting rights will be denied to the people of Punjab and KP, who are currently under the rule of non-elected caretaker govt. The right to "choose representatives" is guaranteed in the preamble to the constitution.

The demand from @ptiofficial, who have the most stake in these elections being the incumbent who triggered the vote, is simple: people should be given the right to vote in line with the constitution. If not, the foundation of the social contract between citizens and state falls.

Any delay in elections will irrevocably hurt Pakistan's democracy. The last time elections were delayed, it took 11 years of brutal military rule before Pakistanis were able to vote again. All democratic forces, local and int'l, should ensure that is not allowed to happen again.