PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, speaking on Friday, emphasized theneed for elections to be held “as soon as possible” while adhering to theconstitutional requirement of a 90-day timeframe. However, the ElectionCommission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled out the possibility of electionsoccurring this year. The constitutionally mandated 90-day period forholding elections following the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA),as specified in Article 224 of the Constitution, is set to conclude onNovember 9. The ECP’s rationale for postponing elections beyond this dateis rooted in the notification of results from the new digital 2023 censusand Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, which states that constituencydelimitation should occur after the publication of every census.
Addressing the media in Karachi, the former foreign minister highlightedthe pressing issues faced by the country’s citizens at the moment:inflation, unemployment, and poverty. Bilawal asserted that the PPP’s focuswas not on political adversaries but on combating these socioeconomicchallenges. He underscored the PPP’s history of assisting theunderprivileged and its commitment to people-centric politics andgovernance.
Bilawal further emphasized the PPP’s position that elections should beconducted promptly, in accordance with the Constitution’s 90-day limit, toenable the party to serve the nation and alleviate the prevailing economichardships.
During the media interaction, Bilawal was asked about recent remarks byMaulana Fazlur Rehman, the emir of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)and former head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) ruling coalition.Maulana Fazlur Rehman had claimed that general elections could have takenplace by now if the PPP had not reneged on its commitment. Bilawalresponded by acknowledging Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s status as a seniorpolitician and refrained from delving too deeply into the specifics of thestatement.
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However, Bilawal reiterated the PPP’s readiness for elections, expressingthe party’s willingness to participate in elections within varioustimelines, including May 14 and 60 days, in accordance with theConstitution. He also noted the differing interpretations of theConstitution between the PPP, the PDM, and the Election Commission ofPakistan (ECP). The PPP firmly maintained its stance that elections shouldoccur within the constitutionally mandated 90-day period, while othersbelieved they should take place following the completion of thedelimitation process.
