Punjab’s “civil dictatorship” as indicated by Section 144: Bhachar

As the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, has strongly denounced the imposition of Article 144 on the last day of the by-election campaigns.

Claiming that it represents civil tyranny in Punjab, Bhachar conveyed his serious concerns about what he sees as a violation of legal, political, and constitutional rights.

Bhachar charged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz with complicity in the rejection of these fundamental rights in a statement released from Lahore. “Slumbering is the electoral commission. In this election, Section 144 has been enforced—what kind of election is this?” he said.

He urged the higher judiciary to take notice of the ongoing constitutional violations by the Punjab administration.

The opposition leader also attacked the Pakistani Election Commission, calling it “dumb” and claiming it hasn’t done a good job of carrying out its duties. He bemoaned Punjab’s state of affairs, saying the region had become a “prison of civil dictatorship”.

Bhachar went on to say that the police apprehended a number of current and former assembly members during “horrific” searches on the homes of previous and present candidates on Thursday night. He further asserted that the stressful situation was made worse by police officers damaging the offices of candidates running for office.