Pakistan: Sindh Assembly unanimously passes resolution calling for completion of its five-year constitutional term

Karachi: The Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution demanding that it should be allowed to complete its five-year constitutional term and hold elections later under a caretaker government in accordance with the constitution.

The resolution was moved in the house by the lawmaker of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, Burhan Chandio, in the backdrop of negotiations taking place between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and political parties, which form the present coalition government. The talks could pave the way for the premature dissolution of the existing elected assemblies in the country for holding early general elections this year.

The resolution paid tribute to the present house of the Sindh Assembly for fulfilling its constitutional obligations by raising the issues of public importance and guiding the provincial government to find solutions.

The concerned lawmakers on the treasury benches, who spoke on the resolution, said that general elections should be held all over the country at the same time after the elected assemblies completed their term in accordance with the constitution.

Constitution violated

They said the demand to hold early elections in the country was against the spirit of democracy and the constitution.

They were of the view that elections shouldn’t be held in the country prematurely at someone’s whim.

They said the PTI shouldn’t have resigned from the National Assembly and later dissolved the two provincial assemblies in the country after its ouster from power last year as a result of the no-confidence motion as its lawmakers should have opted to sit on the Opposition benches in the parliament.

Firdous Shamim Naqvi, a legislator of PTI, said that the constitution had been violated as elections were not held within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking on the resolution, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said the present house had worked up to the expectations of the people of the province as it should be allowed to complete its term.

Shah assured the concerned legislators that he would first come to the house to have a consultation with its members if ever he was compelled to exercise his constitutional power of dissolving the assembly before the completion of its constitutional term.

He advised the PTI that it shouldn’t insist on the premature dissolution of the assemblies in the country in its talks with the government.