Pakistan election commission disqualifies former PM Imran Khan
Al JazeeraDec 23, 2022
The Facts
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that assembly elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces must be held within the next 90 days.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party dissolved the two provincial assemblies in January to force early general elections.
The Spin
Narrative A
Pakistan's Constitution clearly states that elections must be held within 90 days of an assembly's dissolution, which is why Wednesday's ruling is a win for both the Constitution and the people. Prime Minister Sharif can continue to try and corrupt the electoral system, but his nefarious tactics are no match for the popularity of Imran Khan and his party.
Narrative B
As Pakistan faces dire security and economic situations, Imran Khan should not be allowed to destabilize the government. The country needs unification right now, and holding provincial elections separately from the general will only cause division. However, as elections are arriving sooner rather than later, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party must show its strength by garnering support from all sides of the fragmented population.
