The Punjab Assembly elections were scheduled for May 14 by the Supreme Court, but Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah underlined on Saturday that he does not see those elections happening on that day.
The interior minister stated at a press conference in Faisalabad that even if voting took place on May 14, no one would accept the results since it was "absurd" for political parties to agree on an election date, as the top court had ruled.
All political parties in the case involving the Punjab elections, including the government and opposition, have promised the Supreme Court that they will examine the matter on April 26 and update the court the following day.
The PMLN leader alluded to the Supreme Court's ostensible internal rift by saying, "How good would it be if all 15 judges sat down together and issued a unanimous verdict?"
Sanaullah defended his claim by claiming that crucial institutions such as the army, the judiciary, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) weren't prepared for the elections in May.
The interior minister expressed his government's reservations about holding the elections separately, saying that it "seems impossible to hold elections in the next few days given the country's current situation."
In voicing his disagreements with the three-member SC verdict dated April 4, Sanaullah claimed it had been tainted by "so many controversies that voices of dissent are rising from within the court."
The minister continued by saying that his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has never attempted to avoid holding elections, instead taking the "principled" position that elections should take place concurrently throughout the country.
"Won't the general elections be impacted if the Punjab polls are held first? The Constitution also calls for elections to be held on the same day, as the interior minister reminded the judiciary, adding that political groups might not recognize the results if elections aren't held concurrently.
In accordance with the SC's directives, the minister stated that all political parties should negotiate a date for the elections while stressing that the government is open to discussions.
He added that the Pakistan Democratic Movement, the center-right ruling coalition, established a committee to conduct talks with the Imran Khan-led PTI and that the rulers are anticipating the moot on April 26.
However, he added that PTI chairman Imran Khan was not someone who would be open to discussion and claimed that this approach would lead to disaster for the country.
The interior minister stated at a press conference in Faisalabad that even if voting took place on May 14, no one would accept the results since it was "absurd" for political parties to agree on an election date, as the top court had ruled.
All political parties in the case involving the Punjab elections, including the government and opposition, have promised the Supreme Court that they will examine the matter on April 26 and update the court the following day.
The PMLN leader alluded to the Supreme Court's ostensible internal rift by saying, "How good would it be if all 15 judges sat down together and issued a unanimous verdict?"
Sanaullah defended his claim by claiming that crucial institutions such as the army, the judiciary, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) weren't prepared for the elections in May.
The interior minister expressed his government's reservations about holding the elections separately, saying that it "seems impossible to hold elections in the next few days given the country's current situation."
In voicing his disagreements with the three-member SC verdict dated April 4, Sanaullah claimed it had been tainted by "so many controversies that voices of dissent are rising from within the court."
The minister continued by saying that his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has never attempted to avoid holding elections, instead taking the "principled" position that elections should take place concurrently throughout the country.
"Won't the general elections be impacted if the Punjab polls are held first? The Constitution also calls for elections to be held on the same day, as the interior minister reminded the judiciary, adding that political groups might not recognize the results if elections aren't held concurrently.
In accordance with the SC's directives, the minister stated that all political parties should negotiate a date for the elections while stressing that the government is open to discussions.
He added that the Pakistan Democratic Movement, the center-right ruling coalition, established a committee to conduct talks with the Imran Khan-led PTI and that the rulers are anticipating the moot on April 26.
However, he added that PTI chairman Imran Khan was not someone who would be open to discussion and claimed that this approach would lead to disaster for the country.