PPP, PTI polluted democracy with political smog: Saad Rafique

LAHORE (APP): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have created “political smog” to pollute the democratic environment of Pakistan.

While tweeting regarding the general elections of 2018, Rafique urged the two political parties to extend cooperation for the constitutional amendment bill — on the delimitation of seats in the National Assembly — so that the polls are held on time.

He added that the constitutional amendment on the delimitation of seats was essential now that the population has been counted.

According to Rafique, parties which had reservations with the constitutional amendment on delimitation were concerned about their representation in the 2018 General Elections.

In earlier tweets, the minister stated that under delimitation, Punjab lost nine seats but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — which rules the province — did not object.

While speaking about the census, the minister said it was the PML-N that took the initiative for an official population count.

He added PPP did not take the responsibility to hold the census during its tenure.

Moreover, he said, plans for the future could not be chalked out without updating the national database based on the latest census.