The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected giving out any statement regarding early elections in Pakistan. Earlier, a leading media group reported that ECP cannot hold general elections in three months.
According to the publication, a senior ECP official said that preparations for the general elections would require around six months, citing recent delimitation of constituencies and bringing district and constituency-wise electoral rolls in conformity as major hurdles in early elections.
Furthermore, the publication reported that the official said a “minimum of three months would be required to complete the exercise, followed by another gigantic task of updating voters’ lists”. To clarify, ECP has a constitutional responsibility to hold elections within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies.
Read more: Imran Khan to continue as prime minister under article 224
Since then, criticism amassed for ECP for “delaying” the elections. Many accused ECP of working with the Opposition and influencing the Supreme Court decision.
“How can ECP say this when they have to be prepared to hold elections in 3 months. Shows mala fide intent? Mere coincidence that this comes after cry baby Bilawal declares elections cannot be held in 3 months? PPP not prepared to go into elections after extinction in KP LG!” Shireen Mazari tweeted, a claim voiced by many on Twitter.
How can ECP say this when they have to be prepared to hold elections in 3 months. Shows mala fide intent? Mere coincidence that this comes after cry baby Bilawal declares elections cannot be held in 3 months? PPP not prepared to go into elections after their extinction in KP LG! pic.twitter.com/iAaVTnDLON
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 5, 2022
ECP refutes fake news
Interestingly, there are reports on Twitter stating that Opposition lawyer Raza Rabbani used the media report as an argument in today’s Supreme Court SC hearing.
To clarify, Tuesday, the SC resumed hearing of a suo moto case related to the April 3rd political crisis. On April 3rd, the National Assembly Deputy Speaker dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Shortly after, the premier announced that he advised the President to dissolve the assemblies. However, the Opposition took the matter to the Supreme Court.
https://twitter.com/ToxicTruths83/status/1511257420277891073?s=20&t=bmh5V92Nhwot8vn7fObwPQ
So a media group ran a fake news that ECP has refused to conduct elections before 6 months.
Opposition lawyer presented as an 'argument' in Supreme Court. Now Election Commission says media report is fake.
Media in Pakistan is nothing more than a dangerous circus.
— OSINT Insider (@OSINT_Insider) April 5, 2022
Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan issued a clarification on Twitter. Moreover, ECP said it is ready to hold elections.
“It is necessary to clarify that the Election Commission of Pakistan has not issued any statement regarding the election,” ECP wrote. Earlier, ECP busted another fake news about overseas voting.
الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان
اسلام آباد 5 اپریل 2022
ضروری وضاحتضروری وضاحت کی جاتی ہے کہ الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان نے الیکشن سے متعلق کوئی بیان جاری نہیں کیا ھے۔۔۔
ترجمان الیکشن کمیشن. #ECP #ElectionCommissionofPakistan
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) April 5, 2022