PPP CEC demands early election date and schedule

F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a press conference after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Party in Lahore. At the beginning of the press conference, he read out the resolutions passed by the CEC of the Party expressing concerns over the economic situation of the country, ever-increasing prices of commodities, inflated power tariff and increased prices of petroleum products.
The CEC also demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to immediately announce the date and schedule of the elections in the country according to the Constitution. The CEC also demanded to declare the flood affected areas in Punjab as disaster-hit. Solidarity was expressed with the minority community in Pakistan and concerns were expressed over increasing terrorism in the country.
Later, he responded to the questions by the media persons present on the occasion. He said that it is not possible here to repeat all the reservations by the PPP’s representatives from all over Pakistan regarding the level playing field. We presented these reservations to President Zardari to address them. He said that there is a context of every opinion. We have not reached any conclusion about our strategy regarding elections and that is why we are demanding the date and schedule of elections in the country. Once the schedule of the elections is announced, we will formulate a strategy.
Chairman Bilawal said that the PPP focuses on the entire country. We give importance to every province. No one asks Nawaz Sharif or any other why they do not spend time in Sindh, why they do not spend a night in Balochistan or why they do not focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PPP was formed in Punjab but was ousted from it through a conspiracy. The conspiracy was first hatched in 2013 by General Pasha, Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar and a political party. Then in 2018, General Faiz Hameed and Saqib Nisar conspired to keep the PPP out of Punjab and plonk a certain political party. One political party suffered during its government because PPP was kept out of Punjab.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the CEC discussed the constitutional stand and then the stance of the Election Commission of Pakistan on elections. We were all of the opinion that to allay any confusion, the ECP should announce the schedule of the elections. We think that once the election schedule is announced, all the political parties will be in election mode and come out with their manifestoes. The PPP will also present its manifesto to the people of Pakistan.
The PPP has always tried to strengthen the parliament and parliamentary institutions so that we can all benefit from its fruit.
Chairman PPP said that he is very interested in Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and its people. I have given hope to the people, especially the youth of Kashmir and GB, he said. We all have the duty to give the youth a stake, not only in politics but also in the economy. We have to give up traditional politics. Over 65% of the population of Pakistan is under 30 years of age and I am also going to be 35 this year, Chairman PPP said. I have studied abroad and have seen the world. This is my understanding that we will have to engage the youth in politics and economy of the country. We gave a stake to the women through the BISP and similarly we have to give stake to the youth and the farmers, he said.
Responding to a question, Chairman Bilawal said that the PPP is not in difficulty or oppressed. We have seldom witnessed a level playing field in elections but I am hopeful. I have trust in my team. There is only one political party which is not afraid of going to the people and that is the PPP. I can tell the people about my performance as the foreign minister, my role during floods and then what I did for the FATF issue. We are ready to tell the people about our performance in BISP. We are ready and not disappointed at all. Everyone knows our stand about the elections, Chairman Bilawal said.
In response to a question on today’s verdict about the NAB laws’ amendments by the Supreme Court, he said that Justice Bandial was the last judge who was restored through a notification. Now, the history will give its verdict whether there was any benefit to the country of the movement of judiciary. Answering a question about political dialogue with the PTI, Chairman PPP said that before 9 May we were trying to have a dialogue with every political force for the elections but the PTI decided to attack the Jinnah House, GHQ and other army installations.