Either polls will be held or contempt verdict announced: Sheikh Rashid

Says there is a clear split in the PDM

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Wednesday that either the contempt verdict would be announced by the Supreme Court or elections would be held in the country and all eyes were on the apex court. 

Using his Twitter handle, Sheikh Rashid said the meeting of government allies yesterday (on Tuesday) witnessed disintegration and there was a clear split in the PDM. The PPP, the MQM and the BAP were repenting their decisions. The majority parties had lost their popularity among people, he added. 

He said the order of the court had been violated and now either elections would be held or the contempt verdict would be announced. The extent of punishment would be determined in a day or two and all eyes were on the Supreme Court. Ultimately, he said, the judiciary would have to get its constitutional verdicts implemented and respected and it knew how to do its job. 

“If they don't hold elections, the caretakers will have to go home. They are not there for postings, transfers and promotions only,” he said. Sheikh Rashid said elections could be held in one go only if the National Assembly was dissolved.

 

 

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) April 19, 2023

 

The government had to give date for dissolution of the assembly and holding of general elections, he said. The government, he said, had been isolated from both the people and the world in its quest to retain power. 

He further said the government knew its popularity among the people, so it was defying court orders. A year had passed and the deal with the IMF had not been finalised. The social, political, economic and judicial crises were at their peak. The people were suffering owing to poverty and inflation, he lamented.