The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to promptly announce the election date. They expressed concern that the caretaker government’s bias is becoming increasingly apparent, particularly in the special treatment being afforded to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.
The PPP reminded the commission that the general election’s legitimacy would be in question if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was excluded from the electoral process.
The ECP had previously suggested that the elections might occur in the last week of January 2024, but no official schedule has been provided so far, leading to growing uncertainty in relevant circles.
Nayyar Bukhari, the Secretary General of the PPP, emphasized that the Election Commission has a responsibility to the nation and the highest court to announce the election date. He noted that it is widely known that the caretaker government appears to be favoring a particular party, and he warned that if a level playing field is not ensured for all political parties, questions will be raised about the election results. He also expressed concerns that the nation could face a constitutional crisis if the election results are not accepted.
Bukhari questioned the basis on which the Punjab government is suspending sentences, highlighting the perceived imbalance in the actions of the caretaker governments.
Senator Sherry Rehman, the Vice President of the PPP, has voiced concerns regarding the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the election date. She noted that the delay in announcing the election date is causing uncertainty and undermining the credibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Rehman emphasized that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has consistently demanded an election date, but the ECP has been unresponsive.
Rehman highlighted that while the country waits for the election date, the ECP has extended the deadline for voter registration and information updates until October 28. To prevent controversies and maintain the integrity of the electoral process, she urged the ECP to promptly announce the election date, emphasizing that delaying the election would equate to denying people their right to vote.
The PPP made it clear that the “minus-PTI result” of the general elections would not be acceptable to anyone. Despite their reservations about the actions of Imran Khan and the PTI, the PPP insisted that the election results must include all political parties, as excluding the PTI would not be acceptable to the public.
Rana Farooq, the acting president of PPP Punjab, stated that Nawaz Sharif should have advocated for a level playing field for all parties, not just his own. He also mentioned that Nawaz Sharif’s recent public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan did not surpass the record of Benazir Bhutto’s gathering at the same venue in terms of participants.
Regarding the protocol given to Nawaz Sharif upon his return after four years, Farooq noted that it did not sit well with people from other provinces. He also discussed the alliance between the PPP and the PML-N in 2008, stating that it was a necessary step to remove military ruler Pervez Musharraf from power.
Faisal Mir added that Nawaz Sharif’s return had benefited the PPP, as supporters who had previously left the party to join other groups were now returning to the PPP fold. Additionally, he mentioned that during the PPP’s tenure in power from 2008 to 2013, they did not increase the rates of electricity and gas, unlike subsequent administrations which had raised tariffs, which, in their view, had a detrimental impact on the national economy.
