Alvi asks PM to make sure implementation of prime courtroom’s order on Punjab, KP polls to ‘keep away from additional problems’ – Pakistan

President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to direct federal and provincial authorities to help the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) in holding the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Courtroom to “keep away from additional problems”.

The president made the request in a letter, which comes two days after the electoral watchdog, in a shock transfer, put off the Punjab Assembly elections by greater than 5 months, citing the “deteriorating safety state of affairs” within the nation. The transfer was broadly condemned by the PTI, authorized specialists and members of civil society.

Within the letter, a duplicate of which is on the market with Daybreak.com, the president talked about the provincial polls in addition to the “use of disproportionate pressure” by authorities towards politicians, political employees and journalists.

He mentioned that the prime minister, as the pinnacle of the federal government, was chargeable for safeguarding human rights in addition to the elemental rights of each citizen.

“It’s additional emphasised that each one involved government authorities of federal and provincial governments needs to be directed to chorus from abuse of human rights and in addition to help the ECP to carry normal elections in provinces of Punjab and KP, inside the timeframe in compliance of Supreme Courtroom’s order dated March 1 to keep away from additional problems, together with contempt of courtroom.”

On March 1, the apex courtroom had ruled that elections for the Punjab and KP assemblies needs to be held inside the stipulated interval of 90 days. It had, nonetheless, allowed the ECP to suggest a ballot date that deviates from the 90-day deadline by the “barest minimal”, in case of any sensible issue.

Alvi’s letter mentioned the ECP had approached the related Punjab and KP departments concerning holding elections however “it seems federal and caretaker governments in Punjab and KP suggested the heads of involved departments to point their incapability to offer needed assist for holding normal elections.”

Citing Article 220 of the Structure which states that government authorities are dutybound to help the ECP in discharging its features, Alvi mentioned {that a} “flagrant violation of the Structure” had been dedicated by government authorities and authorities departments.

He mentioned the ECP had not carried out his earlier announcement fixing April 30 because the date for polls in Punjab, and had “blatantly violated” the apex courtroom’s March 1 order.

Citing Article 46 of the Structure, which states the prime minister will preserve the president knowledgeable on all coverage issues and legislative proposals by the federal authorities, Alvi mentioned: “It’s a matter of concern that no significant session with the president on coverage points has been undertaken by the prime minister in step with the above article.”

‘Glaring violations of fundamental and human rights’

“Your attention is drawn towards the seriousness of these incidents of human rights violations, atrocities of police/law enforcement agencies and grossly disproportionate use of force against the citizens of Pakistan. Multiple fake and frivolous cases have been registered against politicians, workers, journalists and media persons. Houses of political workers have been raided and citizens abducted without warrants and lawful justification.

“The incidents of human rights violations and oppression by state machinery against innocent citizens are in clear breach and violations of fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 4 of the Constitution, that provides for, and guarantees citizens to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with the law,” the letter said.

It added that numerous constitutional provisions on fundamental rights were being “clearly transgressed”.

“This has tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community and is casting negative repercussions on the future of democracy and state of human rights in Pakistan,” Alvi said.

Furthermore, the president said Pakistan had dropped 12 points down in the World Press Freedom Index 2022 to 157 out of 180 countries, saying that it reflected the country’s “sorry state of affairs”. He said that “this year’s actions and images thereof will further exacerbate our already dismal ranking.”

“In recent months, media has been further suppressed and journalists have also been subjected to charges of sedition and terrorism to stifle dissent and criticism against the government. It appears that a reign of terror has been unleashed against the media persons who have independent opinions,” the president said.