Rana Sana sounds sure elections will not be held in Punjab within 90 days
Pakistan
Recommends ECP to review its decision
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday it was an indomitable fact now that elections could not be held in Punjab within 90 days.
His statement comes a day after a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) decided to launch a “comprehensive” anti-terror operation in the country, raising suspicions that elections could see further delay due to the unavailability of the army for providing security even though CJP Umar Ata Bandial had ordered the ECP to ensure holding the elections on May 14.
Speaking to a private TV, the minister asked if there had been no Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict directing the ECP to hold elections, why it should be followed. “If there was any doubt, SC Judge Justice Athar Minallah’s dissenting note cleared it”, he added. The SC‘s verdict, he said, held no significance now.
When asked if any deliberation was done on elections during the NSC moot, he dilly-dallied on direct response.
He went on to say that the ECP must also review its decision to hold elections after Justice Minallah’s dissenting note. “If the army is not available for providing security for elections, it could not be held as the police were not capable enough to do so”, he added.
He doubted that the Punjab caretaker government was capable to hold peaceful elections as its resources were not enough. “It’s time for the ECP to rethink its decision,” he added.
