PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reaffirmed his call for an immediateannouncement of a date and schedule for the general elections, emphasizingthat only elections can resolve the country’s economic and politicalcrises.
The concerns about the timing of the elections stem from the ElectionCommission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling out elections for this year. The ECPcites the need to wait for the results of the new digital 2023 census andSection 17(2) of the Elections Act as reasons for delaying elections beyondNovember 9, which states that constituency delimitation should follow eachofficial census.
With elections possibly just a few months away, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hasbeen actively participating in public gatherings and party meetings as partof the PPP’s electoral preparations. A significant meeting of the PPP’sCentral Executive Committee took place recently, where Bilawal emphasizedthat announcing an election date and schedule is essential to dispel theprevailing confusion and atmosphere of instability and insecurity in thecountry.
The resolution passed during the CEC meeting underscored the party’sconcern about chronic political instability and stressed the constitutionalrequirement for the ECP to promptly announce the election date andschedule.
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Bilawal also reiterated his concerns about an unequal political landscape,particularly related to “one party,” and mentioned that PPP co-chairpersonAsif Ali Zardari has been authorized to raise these concerns at appropriateforums.
During a previous CEC meeting, the PPP had expressed apprehensions aboutpro-PML-N members in the caretaker cabinet, restrictions on developmentprojects in Sindh by the election watchdog, and the delay in announcing adate for the general elections. The PPP had urged the ECP to hold generalelections as soon as possible, even if it meant not adhering to the 90-dayconstitutional limit.
