The Election Commission of Pakistan, distancing itself from the no-confidence move against the premier, said that it could only decide on horse-trading after they received a declaration against those lawmakers from the National Assembly speaker.
In a statement, the ECP said that since the electoral body was being criticized for not taking action against floor-crossing it felt that it was necessary that they give an explanation.
The commission elaborated that a lawmaker’s disqualification over defection were described in Article 63 (A) of the Constitution under which the party chief had to declare in writing that a lawmaker had defected and submitted to the NA speaker and chief election commissioner.
It further said that following this the electoral body will give the lawmakers a chance for explanation to why the declaration should not be submitted against them.
The NA speaker would then send the declaration about a dissident lawmaker’s disqualification to the chief election commissioner (CEC) within two days.
The ECP added that if the presiding officer failed to complete this process, it would be assumed that the CEC had received the declaration.
The commission also cited Articles 218 (1) and 219 of the Constitution, saying that the ECP had the responsibility to hold parliamentary, provincial assembly, local government and other elections.
“Under Article 41 (3) of the Constitution, the ECP has the responsibility to hold elections for the office of the president.”
However, it added, it had nothing to do with the prime minister’s election and a no-trust motion filed against him, the procedure for which was detailed under Articles 91 (4) and 95 of the Constitution, respectively.
The NA’s rules of business also outlined these procedures. The NA speaker conducted the no-confidence proceedings in the capacity of a presiding officer.
The commission explained that it had the ability to hold elections for the prime minister’s office and no-confidence proceedings against him.
The statement by the election commission comes as Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the electoral body to do something about horse trading.
