PTI And PPP Call For A Precise Election Date

On Saturday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) jointly called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to promptly announce the precise date for the upcoming general elections.

While the PPP emphasized the need for a level playing field for all political parties and urged the ECP to announce the election date and schedule in accordance with the Constitution, the PTI insisted that the ECP must fulfill its constitutional role and ensure that the polls are conducted within the constitutionally mandated 90-day period.

Read more : ECP Announces January 2024 Date For General Elections

This demand arose shortly after the ECP announced that the elections would take place in the last week of January, with the delimitation process set to conclude by November 30, followed by a 54-day election program before the general elections. While this announcement clarified the timing of the elections, it did not specify the exact date, leaving room for speculation.

In response, a PTI spokesperson criticized the ECP for delaying the announcement of a specific election date and urged them to avoid hiding behind technicalities.

The PTI emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitution and called on the ECP to focus on its constitutional duty to conduct fair and transparent elections within the defined framework.

Although the Constitution mandates holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly, the ECP selected the last week of January for polling, citing the need to complete the delimitation exercise due to the late notification of census results by the previous coalition government.

The PTI spokesperson accused the ECP of neglecting the constitutional rights of the 240 million citizens and expressed concern about the electoral body’s alleged attempts to delay the elections.

In contrast, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari emphasized the importance of the ECP announcing the date and schedule and called for the interim government’s assistance in ensuring free, fair, and transparent polls.

He noted that the PPP remained open to negotiations and alliances with political rivals for the sake of democracy and the Constitution, highlighting past collaborations such as the Charter of Democracy with the PML-N.

Bukhari also addressed issues related to the PTI, referencing disqualifications within its leadership, and encouraged PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan and engage in political activities.

Furthermore, he criticized the use of accountability for revenge and highlighted the legal journey of PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari as an example.