Peoples Party asks ECP to announce election schedule

It is up to ECP to announce election date, says minister

PPP on Friday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the schedule for the general elections.

The PPP delegation, headed by senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira held a meeting with the ECP officials. Sources divulged that the PPP had also expressed its concerns regarding the delimitation.

The PPP apprised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of its concerns about not announcing the election schedule.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Monday that only his party represents the masses in its real context.

Speaking to the media in Tandlianwala, Mr Bhutto-Zardari urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the date for the general elections.

He took a swipe at the opponents, saying, “Some of the people are mistakenly believing that the PPP has no interest in Punjab politics. We will prove all of such people wrong.”

“We will highlight issues in line with inflation, unemployment, security, and the democratic process,” maintained Mr Bhutto-Zardari.

Earlier,

Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said on Friday that it was up to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the final date of the general elections.

Expressing his thoughts, Mr Solangi said, “The interim government is constitutional. It is not up to the interim government to announce the election date.”

“Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is the head of the country’s biggest party. It is his right to complain as he is the head of the biggest political party.”

“It has been said that few of the cabinet members belong to any specific party. Fawad Hasan Fawad had served as a public servant for 35 years.” Mr Solangi added.

– Elections scheduled to take place in last week of Jan –

According to the recent announcement by the ECP, the eagerly awaited general elections are scheduled to take place in the last week of January.

The Election Commission revealed that the initial list of constituencies will be unveiled on September 27, 2023, with the final and definitive list set to be released on November 30.

This approach will allow for ample time to address any objections and incorporate valuable suggestions pertaining to the constituencies, culminating in the presentation of the finalized list on November 30.

Consequently, the general elections are slated to occur 54 days after this pivotal announcement.

It is worth noting that political parties had been fervently advocating for early and transparent general elections in the country, with calls for the intervention of a caretaker government.

However, the caretaker government firmly asserted that the responsibility for election scheduling rests with the Election Commission, emphasizing that it will determine the precise date for the upcoming general elections.