The elections for the Punjab Legislative Assembly in Pakistan, which were originally scheduled for April 30, have been delayed until October 8. The decision to postpone the elections was made by Pakistan’s elections oversight body after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s government refused to provide the necessary funds and polling staff, citing financial constraints. The move has been criticized by former prime minister and current opposition leader Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Khan’s party had previously dissolved the regional assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in an unsuccessful attempt to force snap national elections. Since his ouster in a no-confidence vote last April, Khan has been calling for early elections, but Sharif has rejected the demand. Sharif has instead proposed holding national elections and regional assembly voting on the same day later this year.
