Early Elections
LAHORE: The PPP Central Executive Committee held a highly-anticipated meeting on Thursday and expressed concerns about the inclusion of pro-PML-N individuals in the caretaker cabinet, the election watchdog’s ban on development projects in Sindh, and the delay in announcing a date for the general elections.
The PPP urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the general elections as soon as possible, even if it meant going beyond the 90-day constitutional limit, echoing their chairman’s earlier complaint about an uneven playing field in the lead-up to the polls.
When it came to the timing of the elections, the PPP top brass aligned with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, in contrast to Asif Ali Zardari’s recent statement favoring a delay in elections due to fresh delimitations in light of the census approved by the coalition government shortly before the dissolution of the National Assembly.
While some members expressed concerns about the “aggressive” tone of the PPP chairperson in recent public gatherings, the PPP chairman and the majority of the members dismissed these concerns. They pledged to adhere to the “same line of true and just politics” and take their stance to the election campaign.
PPP’s Early Elections Stand
Shazia Marri, PPP Information Secretary, addressed a press conference on the sidelines of the moot. She stated that the CEC meeting would also continue on Friday to assess the president’s letter to the ECP, which suggests holding polls by Nov 6, and to discuss various issues including the current political situation, general elections, the inclusion of pro-PML-N individuals as ministers in the caretaker setup, the national economy, and more.
Flanked by Faisal Karim Kundi and Shehzad Saeed Cheema, she argued that holding early elections was in the best interests of the country to alleviate the current uncertainty.
During a press conference on Thursday, PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri emphasized the importance of delimiting constituencies after the new census while urging caution not to compromise other constitutional provisions.
She reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to holding elections within the constitutionally mandated 90 days, referencing the party’s earlier objection to elections in Punjab within this timeframe following the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly on January 14, 2023.
Marri expressed reservations about the time-consuming nature of constituency delimitation, suggesting the Election Commission could expedite the process to avoid exceeding the 90-day limit.
Regarding President Arif Alvi’s letter suggesting a polling date, she noted that legal experts had clarified the president’s lack of authority in this matter, leading to confusion. The CEC also expressed concerns about the inclusion of former bureaucrats and PML-N confidants in the caretaker federal cabinet, highlighting the perception of favoritism toward the PML-N.
Marri called for unity among political parties on election issues to ensure impartiality, noting previous efforts by the PPP chairman to coordinate elections on a single day across parties.
