PPP, PML-N hail ECP announcement of polls date

• PPP's has been calling for holding timely elections: Bukhari.
• It would be difficult for ECP to backtrack on this date: Siddiqui.
• ECP using delaying tactics, not sincere in holding polls: ANP leader.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the three major political parties of the country, have welcomed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announcement that elections in the country will take place on February 11, 2024.

In a major development on Thursday, the ECP’s lawyer informed the Supreme Court’s (SC) three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa that polls will take place on February 11.

The date was shared with the SC by the ECP’s lawyer during the hearing of petitions calling for timely polls across the country. 

Welcoming the ECP’s announcement, PPP's Nayyer Bukhari has said that his party has been calling for holding timely elections.

“Unelected individual or cabinet do not have right to rule the country… the elections should have been held within 90 days as per the Constitution,” he said while speaking to Geo News.

Bukhari said the ECP is answerable to the people and the Supreme Court for not holding elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.

Responding to a question, the PPP leader said the caretaker government’s conduct will establish whether all political parties are given a level-playing field.

'Positive development'

PML-N senior leader Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the announcement saying that it’s a positive development that the process to hold elections has commenced.

However, he said fixing date polls is the mandate of the ECP.

PML-N leader Irfan Siddiqui told Geo News that the ECP announcement is a positive development as it will ensure stability in the country.

“I welcome this development even more because the announcement came from Supreme Court which has increased its sanctity,” he remarked.

He said it would be difficult for the ECP to backtrack on this date since the poll date was shared with the country’s top court.

“We believe that elections will take on time,” he added.

MQM-P‘s Amin Ul Haque said that welcomed the ECP’s announcement to hold elections on February 11.

However, he added that to take the country forward democratic tradition must continue and for that free and fair elections must be held.

“MQM-P demands that the failure of RTS system in 2018 and release of elections results after 72 hours should be avoided in next elections and all parties should get a level playing field,” said Haque.

'Historic hearing'

PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar termed today's proceedings at the apex court as "historic hearing" as an ambiguity regarding the polls ended with it.

"Someone said the polls will be staged while someone said polls will not be staged. It was a worrisome situation," the Senator said while talking to media after the SC hearing

Zafar said that the SC made it clear that the elections were supposed to be staged within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies.

He then called on the ECP to release an election schedule as per the Constitution after consultation with President Arif Alvi as directed by the court. The good news of elections has been received after a long time, he added.

"The Supreme Court has given clear orders that if anyone made a violation then they will be responsible for it," Zafar stressed.

He said that the apex court clearly stated that the poll date would not be changed once announced.

Moving on to the date given by the top electoral body, Zafar said that the ECP has given February 11 as the date of the poll, though the elections should have been staged within the 90-day period

"An illegal move was made by violating the Constitution. We hope that our issues will be resolved and if not, the court is there," he said, adding that Article 6 can be applied to those who don't abide by the SC's verdict.

He said that they are trying the PTI chairman gets the chance to contest in elections, he added.

'ECP not sincere in holding polls'

Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said the ECP was not sincere in holding elections.

He questioned why the ECP did not fix January 28 as the election date and announce the election schedule.

The ANP leader said the ECP is using delaying tactics and urged the Supreme Court to seek the election schedule from the ECP.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said the Supreme Court's decision on election delay case could be a "historic and game-changing".

"Supreme Court has said once date of election given it will be written in stone and shall not be changed. After Meeting between President and ECP InsAllah date will be announced hopefully today. This could be a historic and game changing decision by SC. Constitution is supreme," he wrote on X.