The Leader of the House, Ishaq Dar, expressed his concern about the lack of a level playing field for the PML-N in the 2002, 2008, and 2018 elections. He acknowledged that even in the 2018 elections, there were challenges, but the PML-N bravely contested despite them. Dar emphasized the need for free, fair, and transparent elections to ensure credibility. He also clarified that according to the constitution, elections should be held within 90 days after the assembly’s dissolution and that delimitation is a constitutional requirement for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Dar further revealed that the government did not allocate funds for elections in the fiscal year 2022-23, but the necessary funding was allocated for the fiscal year 2023-24 by the PDM government. Regarding the withholding of funds for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he stated that he had to follow the resolution of the National Assembly.
Ishaq Dar criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for derailing the IMF program during their tenure. He alleged that the PTI strategically created economic challenges for the PDM government, similar to Sri Lanka’s situation. However, he highlighted the PDM government’s achievements in the economic realm, particularly in reinstating the IMF program.