Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party is ready to participate in the upcoming elections, whether they are held in the next three months or later. However, he highlighted the importance of understanding the gist of the Supreme Court’s detailed judgment.
The PPP chief’s remarks came hours after the country’s highest court on Wednesday ruled that elections to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab Assemblies should be held within 90 days of their dissolution. Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal pronounced the judgment of the spontaneous notice case by a majority of three to two.
“PPP is always ready for elections, be it within three months or after,” he said while addressing a meeting with party leaders in Lahore on Wednesday.
The People’s Party chief asked his party to be ready for the upcoming elections. He said that the candidate who performs better than that will be given the ticket, adding that the party’s parliamentary board will take the final decision in this regard.
He also directed to complete the paper work of the candidates for the seats of National and Provincial Assemblies within a week.
SC issues directives for polls in Punjab, KP
Bilawal’s demand for his party to launch an election campaign prompted the Supreme Court to order the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consult President Dr. Arif Alvi to fix the date of general elections in Punjab. The latter has set the tone for elections in the country. Assembly
Regarding the elections in KP, the judgment directed the governor to announce the date of the elections after consulting the ECP.
The Supreme Court ruled that one thing that is “absolutely important is the time frame for elections”. It added that the Constitution envisages two periods for holding elections – 60 days if the Assembly is dissolved after the expiry of its term and 90 days if the Assembly is dissolved before the expiry of its term.
The decision also directed the federal government to conduct the elections in accordance with the constitution.
