Early elections or delayed elections,.

ISLAMABAD -- While the Pakistan Tehreek: e: Insaf has been pushing hard for early elections, the rumour mills are indicating another scenario - a possibilAity of delayed polls.

There has been no offiAcial word on it but there are hints the government members are deliberateAly leaking rumours to check the nation's pulse on the opAtion of polls beyond 2023.

This idea may be designed to tempt the PTI to 'choose the lesser evil' and agree for the elections around the last quarter of the year.

As a priority, the government wants to drag the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the provincial assemAblies to the end of the National AssemAbly's five: year term, which will mean general elections sometime in October.

PTI chief Imran Khan is demanding fresh polls to steer Pakistan out of a proAtracted political crisis. But holding genAeral elections is a costly affair, and the South Asian country's coffers are empty.

Imran Khan's supporters believe that it is the only way to drag the country out of the acute political and economic criAses. They argue a fresh mandate for a political party, or a coalition, will do the country good.

Holding elections is not easy. The incumAbent Pakistan Democratic Movement: led government, headed by Prime MinisAter Shehbaz Sharif, is reluctant to accept Khan's demand, possibly fearing that the former premier could return to power.

Khan was ousted from office last year by a no: confidence vote in parAliament. He accused the establishAment and the US of orchesAtrating his ouster without any real evidence.

In his campaign to force early elections, Imran Khan dissolved the PTI: led Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies but the elecAtions in these two provincAes too are a far cry.

Pakistan is also facing a crippling economic crisis, with the government struggling to secure a loan from the InAternational Monetary Fund (IMF).

The economic chaos, soaring inflaAtion, and an acute shortage of gas and electricity in the country, has dented the popularity of Prime Minister ShehAbaz Sharif's government.

Fawad Chaudhry, a PTI leader, recentAly said the government was making exAcuses to delay the general election to avoid defeat.

Economic crisis is not the only obstaAcle to holding general elections; the seAcurity situation has also worsened in the past few weeks.

Yesterday, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court to hold elections in the national and provincial assemblies on the same date. A citizen, Malik FaisAal...