Reacting to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement that elections will be held after the latest census election was completed, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Khurshid Shah said it was indication that a delay in general elections could be on the cards.
“Once bitten, twice shy,” Khurshid Shah told Asma Shirazi in Faisla Aap Ka when asked about election delay. He added that elections that were supposed to be held in three months were held after 11 years.
Shah added that the PPP had held onto its stance consistently that elections should be held within the 90 day limit defined in the consitution. However, he said, it was clear after Shehbaz’s latest interview that elections would be held after the census was completed.
He said that Shehbaz’s statement indicated that elections could be delayed as much as eight or nine months, as the census would have to be followed by delimitations after which there would be time for campaigning.
Shah added that he could understand the point of starting a census towards the end of the government. He said that there five years for delimitations to be carried out but the matter was instead pushed to the last minute.
He said that if the dots were connected it was clear elections would not take place in November.
Shah also said that new amendments had meant that caretaker government was now more empowered than the past so it could make sure that the ‘system’ would keep running and Pakistan’s international agreements that had already been made would be fulfilled. He added that it was needed because Pakistan was forced to beg for money.
However, he reiterated that it would be a difficult decision for the PPP to agree to a delayed elections but the matter would have to be seen when the time came. He also said that all parties should be allowed to contest the election.
Reacting to the possibility of a technocrat becoming cartaker PM, Shah said technocrats had brought the country to a ruin. He also said that a political leader could not become caretaker PM as it would remove the possibility of a free and fair election.
Shah also said that he was upset over how legislation had been rushed through parliament. He added that there was consensus over the eighteenth amendment as weel as the constitution itself because they had been passed with consensus.
He said that no one would accept the amendments to the Official Secrets Act and they would be struck down by the next government.
Oppostion leader Raja Riaz told Asma Shirazi that he had not yet made the decision of contesting the upcoming election on a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz ticket. Riaz added that the 22 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf dissidents would decide theri political future together.
Riaz also said that he expected to start talking to the PM regarding the caretaker setup by August 8 or 9.
He added that he had a good relationship with PM Shehbaz who had supported his suggestion for NAB chairman.
He also added that he could see elections happening before March as they would be needed for Senate elections to take place.
He added that he coulld forsee Imran Khan being arrested before the general election.
