PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed hope that elections, which are due in Pakistan in January next year, would not be delayed, but everyone would be responsible if they were not held timely.

“All of us will be responsible if God forbid if they [general elections] are not held [till January]. But Insha Allah elections will be held,” he said at a press conference in Jacobabad, Sindh on Saturday.

Polls overseer has asked the people to prepare for chilly elections – over two months after the constitutionally mandated deadline of 90 days – after it completes the delimitation process.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has not announced the exact date for the elections. The schedule is expected to be released after the final notification of the delimitation exercise likely on Nov 30.

“Those who are trying to run away from elections will realise in polls that their approach has cost them dearly and not turned out in their favour,” Bilawal said, “as far as the election date is concerned, we think that it is the duty of ECP to announce the election date.”

The PPP chairman reiterated that the election date announcement from the ECP would end the confusion.

When asked about JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement, he said that for every democratic politician, the solution to problems was an election.

He went on to add that elected representatives have the mandate and legitimacy to represent the people and solve their issues.

“I don’t think Maulana Sb who led MRD and ARD movements will give such a statement. We are democratic parties and want timely elections.”

He also answered queries related to the return of PML-N leader Khawaja Aisf’s statement on supremo Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.

Bilawal appreciated Asif’s media talk but with a bit of criticism. He was of the view that the whole party should hold the responsibility rather than the Sharif family pulling the weight of the party.

On the same wavelength, he added that there should be more activities in Lahore and Narowal for Nawaz’s return. He wondered where his colleagues were from the coalition government.

“Sorry to say I am not satisfied they [PML-N workers and leader] are not seen in their areas. If Nawaz Sharif is coming, we have always wanted Nawaz should come here.”

“We appeal to the chief election commissioner and the caretaker government to not think about any political party but think about the people,” he said while talking about the development projects halted by the interim setup in the province.

He lamented that the Indian government was not issuing visas to Pakistani fans and journalists for the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup.

He ruled out any alliance with the people involved in the May 9 incidents. The PPP cannot think about any alliance with the former ruling party until people involved in the May 9 events were minus from the party, Bilawal said.

Palestine cause

Bilawal said that his party has always raised its voice for the Palestine cause.

“We raised the issue at the G77 forum and at the UN,” he said, adding that Pakistani people have a history of speaking for the Palestine cause.

He was speaking about the fresh escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

He added that the whole Muslim world raised a voice for the Palestine and Kashmir cause at the OIC and world fora.