ISLAMABAD: The potential time for general polls in the country was discussed by former interior minister Rana Sanaullah and opposition leader Raja Riaz, who suggested that elections are likely to take place in February next year.
Sanaullah, representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), also indicated that the party’s Supremo Nawaz Sharif is anticipated to return to Pakistan to lead the electoral campaign before the polls.
Rana said that he was confident that the establishment also desired to hold elections within 90 days.
However, he added that due to the delimitation of constituencies, the polls would be held in February. The delimitation process is set to conclude in December. Nawaz is expected to come back to the country in October to spearhead the electoral campaign.
The former minister said that his party’s leader would be cleared of fabricated charges, similar to PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar.
Meanwhile, Raja Riaz also upheld the belief that elections would occur approximately one week before or after February 15. He noted that the possibility of delaying the polls for a few more months was considered to navigate the country through the present economic situation.
Furthermore, he emphasizes, “It is time to save the country, not politics,” without providing further details. He said that the decision to hold the election in February 2024 had been made by “elders.”
Prior to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s swearing-in on August 14, former premier and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism that the former would ensure the organization of transparent, free, and impartial elections.
