Caretakers must refrain from facilitating certain parties, personalities: PPP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that the federal and provincial caretaker governments should refrain from facilitating certain political parties and personalities.

The partiality of the caretaker governments is exposing day by day, as on what jurisdiction, the Punjab government is suspending the punishments.

The people are also raising questions about providing the biometric facility to an accused person at the airport, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said that a government elected by the people is a guarantee of economic stability of the country.

He said that the PPP would continue its demand of giving a date of elections at every forum whenever the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) does not announce the schedule of elections.

He said that the PPP wants a level playing field for all political parties in the coming general elections. He said that it is a Constitutional requirement to establish a Parliamentary democratic system through free, fair, and transparent elections in the country. He said that the Election Commission is accountable before the Supreme Court and the people of the country for not giving an election date.

The PPP secretary said that election results would be questionable if an equal level playing field is not given to all political parties. He said that a constitutional crisis would create if the elections results would not be recognized.

Meanwhile, talking to the media on Wednesday, Vice President PPP Senator Sherry Rehman reiterated the PPP’s demand for the announcement of the election date and schedule.

She expressed concerns over the lingering uncertainty regarding the election date and said, “The prevailing uncertainty surrounding the election date contradicts constitutional requirements. The election is a constitutional process, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is entrusted with the responsibility of conducting elections that are free, fair, and transparent, in line with the constitution.”

Sherry remarked, “The delay of the election is fueling uncertainty and raising questions about the credibility of the ECP. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has consistently demanded an election date, yet the ECP appears unresponsive. While we await the election date, the deadline for voter registration and information updates has been extended till October 28, 2023. To avoid controversies, the ECP should immediately announce the election date, as we firmly believe that delaying the election equates to denying the people their right to vote.”

“It is regrettable that we are pushing for an election when we should be addressing pressing public concerns such as inflation, electricity bills, and rising gas prices. The formation of a newly-elected government with a public and constitutional mandate is the only way forward,” Sherry said.

The senator said, “PPP firmly believes in the need for a level playing field across the country to prevent any pre-election controversies related to the fairness of the elections. Pakistan is not a banana republic; democratic standards must be upheld, and the constitution must be adhered to.”

Expressing her concerns about the ECP’s silence following the announcement of an “election week,” Senator Rehman stated, “In my four-time tenure as a member of parliament, I have never heard of an ‘election week.’ The date and schedule of elections are announced, not an ‘election week.’ Political forces should act responsibly and avoid any perception favoring election postponement.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023