ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to delay local bodies elections across the country saying that the recently announced schedule by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of the local government elections is practically difficult to deliver free and fair elections.
The resolution moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that conducting local bodies elections in haste will cast doubts on the credibility and transparency of the election results.
The resolution, which was backed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and PTI, also maintained there are grave security concerns and that elections should not be held in the month of Muharram Ul Haram.
It said the ECP must ensure proper procedures to ensure free and transparent local government elections. It said printing of ballot papers as defined by the law can only be carried out by the Printing Press of Pakistan which has shown its inability to print the ballot papers according to the schedule given by the election commission.
It further said the printing of ballot papers by any private printing press will not be acceptable as it will make the entire election process questionable. The sovereign political will of this House should prevail in a democratic process.
The resolution duly signed by different political leaders was forwarded to the ECP.
Meanwhile, the ECP has cancelled a meeting with representatives from all political parties scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) after the National Assembly resolution.
The meeting was scheduled to hold consultations over the local bodies’ elections.
