Without naming it, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took a subtle dig at a political party by saying that “it is really strange that a certain party has given the date of the election”.
The statement comes amid an ongoing dispute over the timing of the polls as political circles are divided over the polling date.
It should be noted that President Arif Alvi proposed November 6 to hold general elections in the country in response to the demand of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Addressing a political rally in Muzaffargarh on Wednesday, Bilawal Bhutto said that neither I, the Chief Election Commissioner nor anyone knows when the elections will be held but this party knows.
He said that no party can solve the problems facing Pakistan alone. All the parties have to come together to get the country out of crisis.
“The PPP is accountable to its ministries and the PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement] to itself,” Bilawal added.
Asked about bringing the PTI to the same table for political stability as was done in the past under the Codification of Democracy (COD), the PPP leader said that the alliance of political parties, PD M, the charter is not in favor of democracy.
انتخابات جلد از جلد ہونے چاہیئے، مگر یہ بہت عجیب بات ہے کہ ایک جماعت انتخابات کی تاریخ کا اعلان کررہی ہے اور کہہ رہی ہے کہ فروری میں انتخابات ہیں۔
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 13, 2023
جب مجھے نہیں پتہ انتخابات کب ہیں؟ عوام کو نہیں پتہ انتخابات کب ہیں؟ الیکشن کمشنر کو نہیں پتہ انتخابات کب ہیں؟ تو اس جماعت کو پہلے سے… pic.twitter.com/7bjUfTDfry
He said that his party wanted a new democratic charter but it could not happen.
“As far as the PTI is concerned, those who were involved in the May 9 attacks, it is very difficult for us [to talk to them],” Bilawal Bhutto said, adding, “An incompetent and incompetent minister Azam was imposed. The [country] faced economic and foreign crisis.”
Bilawal also told his supporters that the meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) of People’s Party regarding the elections will be held tomorrow (Thursday).
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) coalition government dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, while the Sindh and Balochistan Assemblies were also prematurely dissolved to allow the electoral authority to remain in the country for 60 days instead. Elections can be allowed to be held in 90 days. If the legislature completes its constitutional term.
If the elections are held within the 90-day limit, the elections will be held on November 9, 2023.
However, before dissolving the assemblies, the coalition government unanimously approved the Seventh Population and Housing Census 2023 in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting.
According to Article 51 (5) of the Constitution, seats in the National Assembly will be allocated to each province and the federal capital on the basis of population as per the new census.
After the CCI’s approval, the ECP announced a schedule of new constituencies on 17 August that exceeded the constitutional limit of 90 days on 9 November, almost ensuring that the elections would be held after 90 days. It is likely to happen.
As per schedule announced by ECP:
- September 8 to October 7 – Delimitation of constituencies across the country.
- October 10 to November 8 – Proposals regarding constituencies will be presented.
- From 5th September to 7th September – Quota of National and Provincial Assemblies Constituencies will be allotted.
- August 21 – Constituency committees of all four provinces will be formed.
- August 31 – Administrative matters related to constituencies will be completed.
- November 10 to December 9 – The Election Commission will decide on objections to delimitation.
- December 14 – Final publication of delimitation.
