The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered fresh local government elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces within 90 days, following the nullification of the previous polls due to irregularities.
The court's decision was hailed as a victory for democracy and the rule of law in the country. The decision came after a long legal battle by the opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had alleged rigging in the previous local government polls held in these two provinces in 2015.
The PTI had launched a 'Jail Bharo' (fill the jails) movement to protest against the alleged rigging, threatening to fill the jails with its workers if fresh polls were not held under a neutral caretaker setup. However, the Supreme Court's verdict has rendered this movement unnecessary.
The court's decision has been welcomed by all political parties, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, which had won the previous local government polls in Punjab. The PML-N has expressed confidence that it will win again in the fresh polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has welcomed the court's decision and has pledged to ensure that the fresh polls are held in a free, fair, and transparent manner. The ECP has already begun preparations for the polls, including updating the voters' list and appointing polling staff.
The fresh local government polls are expected to be closely contested, with the PTI, the PML-N, and other opposition parties vying for power at the local level. The outcome of the polls is also expected to have an impact on the upcoming general elections in 2018.
The Supreme Court's decision to order fresh local government polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a significant development for democracy in Pakistan. The decision reaffirms the court's commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the electoral process is fair and transparent. It is hoped that the fresh polls will be held without any incidents of violence or irregularities, and that the results will be respected by all parties.
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