THE chaos and confusion within the ranks of those hoping for the Constitution to be upheld has weakened their hand. Consider the PTI, which has recently demanded that President Arif Alvi exercise his constitutional power and announce a date for the general elections forthwith.

According to a press release, the party’s core committee passed a unanimous resolution to this effect during a recent meeting. Interestingly, there was no mention of who actually attended the meeting or where it was held.

With most of the party’s senior leadership currently in prison or on the lam, the PTI is trying to put up a brave face. However, it clearly is in no position to be making demands.

Then there is the PPP, which seems rather confused about its commitment to constitutional principles. Just days ago, the party’s central executive committee said it would push the Election Commission — legally, if need be — to ensure elections were held within the stipulated time frame.

Publicly, however, top PPP leaders have seemed a lot more flexible on election dates. It is, therefore, unsurprising that many believe the party’s sudden remembrance of democratic values is little more than a bargaining chip.

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Meanwhile, the legal fraternity, too, has entered the fray. But while the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council both seem to be in agreement that elections must not be delayed, they stand divided on other matters. The former recently hosted the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention to put forth the legal community’s demands from a single platform, but the PBC chose not to attend.

President Alvi stands at the centre of the crisis, but he, too, seems to be having second thoughts after a tentative attempt to assert his position. With the pressure building on him to announce a date, rumours have been circulating that a recent visit from two high-profile officers might be the reason why he has been keeping a low profile.

Whatever the separate challenges being faced by each of these stakeholders, they need to demonstrate some unity of purpose if they are truly committed to upholding the Constitution. There are some in this country who view the law as an inconvenience in the way of their grand plans.

Much damage has already been done thus far because the resistance to their unlawful actions has been weak and unorganised. Now, the only hope for those who wish to see the constitutional order restored is to refocus their energies on the core demand — free and fair elections within 90 days.

The ongoing assault on the Constitution must be resisted if the nation is to continue hoping for a democratic future. It may yet be an attainable goal. The mistake made in allowing the KP and Punjab elections to be delayed must not be repeated.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023