The demand for an immediate announcement of a date and schedule for the general elections is being reinforced by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Bhutto-Zardari emphasizes that only polls can help alleviate the economic and political crises facing the country.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ruled out elections this year, raising concerns about timing. The ECP’s decision to postpone elections beyond November 9 is based on the notification of results from the new digital 2023 census and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, which states that constituencies should be delimitated after each officially published census.
With elections potentially just a few months away, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been actively engaging in public gatherings and organizing party meetings to prepare for the upcoming polls. The PPP’s Central Executive Committee recently held a highly-anticipated meeting.
Following the meeting, Bhutto-Zardari stated that the announcement of an election date and schedule is crucial to dispel the prevailing “confusion and atmosphere of instability and insecurity” in the country. He emphasized that the ECP has a constitutional duty to promptly announce the election date and schedule, a point reiterated by the party’s lawyers.
Bhutto-Zardari also voiced concerns about the lack of a “level-playing field” in the current political landscape, indicating that these concerns are primarily directed at “one party.” He mentioned that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has been authorized by the party’s apex committee to raise these concerns in appropriate forums.
In addition, Bhutto-Zardari referred to past incidents where the PPP was allegedly targeted by another party in 2013, resulting in the party facing the consequences of that “political mistake” itself.
During a previous CEC meeting, the PPP expressed concerns about the inclusion of pro-PML-N individuals in the caretaker cabinet, the ban on development projects in Sindh by the election watchdog, and the delay in announcing a date for the general elections. The PPP called on the ECP to hold general elections as soon as possible, even if it exceeds the 90-day constitutional limit.
While some members raised concerns about Bhutto-Zardari’s “aggressive” tone in recent public gatherings, the majority of the PPP’s top brass supported his stance. They vowed to uphold the principles of true and just politics and carry their stance into the election campaign.