PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reaffirmed his call for an immediate announcement of a date and schedule for the general elections, emphasizing that only elections can resolve the country's economic and political crises.
The concerns about the timing of the elections stem from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruling out elections for this year. The ECP cites the need to wait for the results of the new digital 2023 census and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act as reasons for delaying elections beyond November 9, which states that constituency delimitation should follow each official census.
With elections possibly just a few months away, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been actively participating in public gatherings and party meetings as part of the PPP's electoral preparations. A significant meeting of the PPP's Central Executive Committee took place recently, where Bilawal emphasized that announcing an election date and schedule is essential to dispel the prevailing confusion and atmosphere of instability and insecurity in the country.
The resolution passed during the CEC meeting underscored the party's concern about chronic political instability and stressed the constitutional requirement for the ECP to promptly announce the election date and schedule.
Bilawal also reiterated his concerns about an unequal political landscape, particularly related to "one party," and mentioned that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has been authorized to raise these concerns at appropriate forums.
During a previous CEC meeting, the PPP had expressed apprehensions about pro-PML-N members in the caretaker cabinet, restrictions on development projects in Sindh by the election watchdog, and the delay in announcing a date for the general elections. The PPP had urged the ECP to hold general elections as soon as possible, even if it meant not adhering to the 90-day constitutional limit.