Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the election commission’s (ECP) decision to delay voting for two key provincial assemblies was “unconstitutional” despite the country’s ongoing political turmoil.
The ECP had previously announced that the elections in Punjab, the country’s most populated province, would be rescheduled from April 30 to Oct. 8 because it lacked the required funds and security support.
The panel also ordered a delay in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa election.
The two provinces have been run by caretaker governments since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) dissolved their assemblies in January to push for early general elections.
However, the Supreme Court said the ECP exceeded its jurisdiction by delaying the elections beyond the 90-day period after the dissolution of the legislature, Pakistan-based news agency Dawn reported….