Expressing serious concerns over the postponement of by-elections, Pakistan Muslim League-N on Tuesday demanded of the government to take stern action against the elements behind the move especially Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik.
The sudden decision of the Election Commission (EC) to postpone the by-elections not only astonished the general public, but also a matter of great concern for the ruling coalition.
Talking to Business Recorder, PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooq termed the move as unconstitutional, illegal and against the very rights of the voters of the vacant constituencies, demanding to take stern action against the elements responsible for the move.
He said that it is a planned conspiracy hatched jointly by Rehman Malik, Attorney General Malik Qayyum and Secretary National Security Council Tariq Azeem on the dictation of President Musharraf. He said that an FIR be lodged against the conspirators and brought them to justice as to avoid committing of any such illegal act again.
"Rehman Malik himself admitted that he urged ECP to postpone the by-election. Hence action should be taken against him", he demanded. This is not a demand of PML-N, but it is a collective demand of the nation to hold the by-polls in time as well as it is a constitutional requirement, Farooq added. Punishing the conspirators is in the interest of coalition government, he opined. He opined that it is a conspiracy planned to block former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif from contesting elections.