The PPP chief’s comments come in response to the Senate resolution seeking to delay the elections over security concerns.
- Bilawal says the elections will be held as per the schedule released by the ECP.
- Former chancellor rules out possibility of postponing elections.
- A politician expresses his desire that the PPP be given a chance.
Amid fears of further delay in the general elections in the country, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said the elections will be held on February 8 as scheduled, even if “they” get resolutions passed by the United Nations (UN). ) or the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The statement came during his press conference in Lahore, in which he was questioned about the passage of a Senate resolution to delay the elections.
Bilawal said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a schedule for the February 8 elections, so they will be held on the same date.
“It does not matter if [they] “If a Senate, UN or OIC resolution is passed, elections will be held on February 8,” the former foreign minister told reporters.
An independent Senate lawmaker introduced a resolution seeking to postpone the elections in light of the extreme weather and security situation in the country, which was adopted by a majority of 14 senators present in the legislature on Friday.
However, a new resolution was presented in the upper house for the elections to be held on February 8 as planned.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, in the resolution submitted to the Senate Secretariat today, pointed out that holding of elections is a constitutional requirement.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court was also asked to initiate contempt proceedings against senators involved in passing a resolution in the Senate over delay in elections.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb also emphasized that elections in the country will be held as scheduled.
Speaking to the media after appearing before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore earlier in the day, the former Information Minister said the PML-N was the only party opposing the resolution.
“The elections will be on February 8 [even if] other parties cry or scream,” Marriyum said.
Ruling out the possibility of the elections being postponed, Bilawal recalled Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa’s observation that the election date was “set in stone”.
The PPP leader said he believes everyone trusts this observation of the chief judge and supports him in this matter.
He expressed confidence that the general elections will be held on time and Pakistanis will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and form a government of their choice.
“The PPP will accept the decision of the Pakistani people,” Bilawal said, expressing his hope that his party would be given the opportunity to address the country’s problems.
Responding to a question on level playing field, the politician said that the PPP has faced difficulties whenever it has participated in elections.
He said other parties maintain that their candidates have been disqualified, but in the 2013 elections a greater number of candidates were disqualified.
Bilawal said the PPP has always demanded free and fair elections in the country, but is currently focusing on the party’s 10-point agenda for the polls instead of complaining about a level playing field.
“Our 10-point agenda is our manifesto [for the elections]”he added.
The politician further stated that he will participate in the elections to implement his manifesto, while Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are competing to save their supremes from cases and jail.
