The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to seek the input of major political parties in order to create a roadmap for the upcoming elections in the country.
In line with this decision, the ECP has invited leaders from various parties to appear for consultations. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan, and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) president, Fazalur Rehman, have been invited to attend a meeting on Thursday. Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, have been invited to attend separate meetings on Friday and August 29, respectively.
The PTI chief has been asked to either participate in person or send representatives for the meeting at 2 pm on Thursday. The discussion during these meetings will cover various matters including the delimitation of constituencies, electoral roll updates, the conduct of the general election, and election schedules.
The ECP has previously warned the federal and provincial caretaker governments against engaging in any political activities that could potentially disrupt the smooth conduct of elections. In letters addressed to the caretaker governments, the electoral watchdog emphasized the need for them to refrain from actions that could influence the elections or compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
The ECP has advised the caretaker administrations to limit themselves to decisions and actions authorized by the Elections Act, 2017. They have reiterated that caretaker governments should remain apolitical and focus only on ongoing projects or agreements initiated under the Public Private Partnership Authority Act 2017.
By involving major political parties in the consultation process, the ECP aims to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process in the upcoming elections in Pakistan.