On Friday, Khurram Dastgir, the energy minister, said Pakistanis should prepare to elect a new government by November 10. He also declared 2023 to be an election year. When asked if this was an election year during an interview with Dawn News English, he responded in this way. This is, indeed. The people of Pakistan should be fully expecting to elect their new government on or before Nov 10, the minister said, even if the prime minister decides to dissolve the [National] Assembly a day or two before — the earliest we can go is Nov 10).
In reply to a preceding question, he mentioned that the Parliament would dissolve by itself on August 12.
The energy minister’s statement is the clearest indication of a firm timeline for the elections coming from a member of the ruling PML-N yet.
It must also be mentioned that early general elections are a core demand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan since his ouster last year.
Presently, uncertainty prevails over the fate of the elections, which are otherwise due in coming October after the completion of the PML-N-led government’s term on August 13, 2023.
As the ruling coalition is indecisive about holding the general elections in coming October, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had said on Tuesday that elections will be held after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) gave a date for the purpose on the completion of the government’s tenure in August.
“The PML-N and its allied parties have said that we will hold elections when the ECP gives a date after the completion of the incumbent government’s tenure in August. It is the responsibility of the ECP to give the election date,” she had said.
There have been divergent statements from the coalition government’s leaders regarding holding the general elections in October.
Of late, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had made categorical remarks that the elections would only be held with his nod.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) president and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl head Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also expressed doubts over holding of polls in October.
“We are political people who are in favour of elections but the decision regarding (October) polls will be taken in consultation with the other coalition parties, just as the PDM made decisions after consulting the allied parties in the past,” Fazl had said.
Former governor and PPP’s senior leader Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood had hinted at a delay in polls, saying the caretaker setup, after the completion of the tenure of the incumbent federal government, might prolong for at least six months if it performed well economically.
A senior PML-N leader from Punjab had said seeking anonymity that no decision on holding polls in the country in October had been taken yet.
