Ruling Coalition Apprehends General Election Delay: Parleys Continue

On Saturday, concerns were raised by two key allies within the ruling coalition regarding the potential delay of the upcoming general elections. The PPP expressed worry that disputes over the digital census and delimitation could lead to a postponement of the polls. Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed doubts about the timely conduct of elections, even if the PDM-led coalition hands over power to a caretaker government, as is customary. The political circles in Islamabad and Karachi are concerned over the possibility of elections being delayed beyond November 2023.

During a press conference, PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi asserted that his party firmly believes that holding timely elections is the only way to navigate the current political and economic challenges. The matter of the census has become contentious after federal ministers categorically stated that elections, originally scheduled for either October or November, cannot be held based on the digital census conducted earlier this year.

Kundi stressed that conducting elections based on the previous census would be a better approach to avoid potential delays. The PPP's stance is that the assemblies should complete their tenure, and the caretaker government and Election Commission of Pakistan should organize elections within 60 days. However, if coalition parties request a 90-day campaign period, the PPP is willing to accommodate that.

According to the law, if the assemblies complete their full five-year term, polls are held after a 60-day period. If assemblies are dissolved prematurely, a 90-day caretaker setup is installed. The prime minister's recent statement about dissolving the assemblies before their term ends has led to speculation that the government intends to extend the caretaker setup to three months.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the PDM chief, also expressed uncertainty about the timing of the upcoming polls and attributed the decision to the incoming caretaker government. He sarcastically remarked that determining the election's fate and timing should be addressed before discussing who should supervise it, implying that it is currently not an immediate concern.

When asked about the expected schedule of the next polls, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that it was not his area of responsibility. He emphasized that the PDM government would quit, and the assemblies would be dissolved on time, leaving the caretaker setup to handle election-related affairs. He expressed readiness for the polls, leaving the final decision on their timing to the caretaker government.

Regarding PTI chief Imran Khan's political future, Maulana Fazlur Rehman dismissed him as a "relic of the past" and suggested that he should not be part of serious discussions anymore. He accused the former prime minister of compromising national institutions by dealing with the IMF, leading to economic challenges for the PDM government.