Election Participation
LAHORE: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar reiterated that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not taken any steps to restrict the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from participating in the upcoming general elections.
During a media interaction at Mayo Hospital in Lahore, the prime minister emphasized the importance of upholding legal constitutional provisions and ensuring a level playing field for all political entities during the electoral process.
Kakar assured that the ECP’s primary responsibility is to oversee free and fair elections, with the allocation of election symbols being the sole domain of the election commission.
Previously, the PTI had requested the ECP to release the written order of a judgment issued on August 30, granting the party the bat symbol for the upcoming elections. Barrister Ali Zafar, a central leader of the PTI, had urged the commission to promptly provide a detailed decision in line with the verbal order issued in August.
Kakar also underscored the ECP’s role as a constitutional body responsible for setting the date for the general elections, reiterating that the delimitation process is a constitutional requirement following the notification of census results.
He reaffirmed the caretaker government’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all registered political parties to participate in the upcoming polls, emphasizing the importance of a fair electoral playing field.
In light of the caretaker prime minister’s assurance, uncertainties regarding the PTI’s role in the forthcoming general elections are being addressed. The caretaker prime minister’s statement provides a sense of clarity and resolution amidst the mounting uncertainties surrounding PTI’s election participation.
