The joint session of the Parliament in Pakistan passed a resolution on Monday that calls for the upcoming national and provincial assembly elections to be held simultaneously throughout the country. The move is aimed at strengthening the federation, promoting political stability, and fostering unity among provinces. The resolution stressed the significance of appointing neutral caretaker set-ups to ensure impartiality and fairness during the elections. It also argued that holding separate elections in Punjab, the largest federating unit with over 50% of the National Assembly seats, could marginalize the smaller provinces’ role in the federation. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators staged a walkout to protest the decision.
The development comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed the provincial assembly election in Punjab by more than five months due to the deteriorating security situation and the economic crisis. However, the Supreme Court declared the ECP’s decision unconstitutional and ordered the electoral body to hold the election on May 14. The coalition government has rejected the decision and tabled a bill in both houses of the Parliament regarding funds for general elections.
Moreover, the federal government also passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, during the joint session of the Parliament. The bill aims to give the power of taking suo motu notice to a three-member committee comprising senior judges, including the Chief Justice. It also aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and includes the right to appeal. The passed bill also addresses the constitution of benches, stating that every cause, matter, or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the Chief Justice and the two senior-most judges.
The Parliament’s resolution stresses the importance of holding general elections for all the assemblies simultaneously across the country. It calls for neutral caretaker set-ups to ensure impartiality and fairness during the elections. The resolution was moved by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Senator Kamran Murtaza, aimed at promoting political stability and fostering unity among provinces. The move comes amid protests by PTI senators, who have called for the government to hold elections across the country to save the country.
The resolution aims to strengthen the federation, promote political stability, and foster unity among provinces. The move to hold simultaneous elections will ensure impartiality and fairness and prevent the marginalization of smaller provinces’ role in the federation. The decision will also address concerns about the deteriorating security situation and the economic crisis.
