The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued an order delaying elections to the Punjab Assembly from April 30 to October 8.

“The Commission after considering the reports, briefing and material brought before it has arrived at the just conculsion that it is not possible to hold elections honestly, justly, fairly in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the constitution and law,” the ECP order reads.

The order quotes the recent Supreme Court judgement that allowed the ECP to ‘deviate to the barest minimum’ from the 90-day deadline mandated in the constitution.

The order also mentions Article 254 to say that not organising elections within the 90 day period does not lead to the delayed elections becoming invalid just because they wer not carried out within the said date.

The order says that it made the decision based on circumstances conveyed by Law Enforcement Agencies, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and Chief Secretary Punjab.

The order says that a fresh schedule will be issued later. The order also instructs officials to inform the president of the new date, as teh date of April 30 had been announced by him.

The order adds that despite the best efforts of the Commission, the federal and provincial government and law enforcement agencies have not provided the required assistance for elections to be organised.

The order says that the Finance Ministry told the commission that it cannot provide the funds required for the elections due to a ‘financial crunch’ and compulsions imposed by the IMF program.

The Ministry of interior and ISI officials told the ECP that army personnel can only be spared as a Quick Response Force and cannot perform static duties in the elections due to a spike in terrorism and census duties. ISI also told the ECP that election activities and political personalities were under threat of being attacked.

Provincial authorities also told the ECP that a shortfall of over 300,000 police officials meant that not more than one policeman per polling station could be spared for election duty.

Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 14 and elections were consitutionally mandated to be held within 90 days. After much to-and-fro between the ECP and the governor, President Arif Alvi had set the date for elections at April 30, which was later upheld by courts.

Imran decries ‘reign of terror’

Imran Khan took to Twitter to denounce the ECP decision as a ‘violation of the constitution.’

He added that the country must stand behind the lgal community and judiciary to protect the constitution.

“For if this is accepted today then it is the end of Rule of Law in Pakistan.”

He added that the PTI had dissolved assemblies with the expectation of going to polls within 90 days.

“We did not take this action to allow a bunch of fascists to impose a reign of terror, violating the Constitution and Rule of Law.”