Early Senate elections an attempt to distort Constitution: Maryam | The Express Tribune

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday rebuffed the government’s plan to hold Senate elections a month earlier, terming it a plan to “distort the Constitution of Pakistan”.

As the opposition threatens to hand in resignations from the federal and provincial legislatures, the ruling party has started weighing the option of holding the Senate polls – scheduled for March 2021 – in February in order to win control of the upper house by snatching the majority from the PML-N.

Analysts believe the move to hold the Senate elections earlier is expected to disrupt the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) plan of forcing the government to resign and hold fresh general elections before March 2021.

While holding a press conference at Jati Umra following a meeting of the party’s parliamentarians, Maryam questioned under what capacity the federal government announced holding early Senate elections without referring to the Constitution.

She added that the government was feeling pressured by the PDM’s rallies and was hence, using such tactics.

“When an incompetent government comes under public scrutiny, it acts with fear,” she said.

The former premier’s daughter, asserted that there was no transparency in the proposed ‘show of hands’ method for Senate elections.

Maryam said the government was playing a dangerous game by ‘toying’ with the institutions, and continued her criticism of the incumbent government.

“You have caused irreparable damage to the security agencies; you have become the chairman of Federal Bureau of Revenue and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Do you want to take up the job of the chief justice as well?” Maryam asked.

Reiterating that the ruling party had robbed the people of their mandate, she said there should have been no discussions with those in power from ‘day one’.

“They have to come on TV to present their case. Whatever strategy the government adopts, it has to go now,” said the PML-N vice president.

Referring to the upcoming elections of the upper house, she said the PML-N was part of the PDM, and the matter of early Senate elections will be discussed among the allied opposition parties.

The PML-N leader also expressed pleasure on being invited by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to Larkana, and said she will definitely go.

She added that the PDM alliance was for the betterment of Pakistan and it must continue.