PPP reposes confidence in coalition allies after shock by-poll defeat

Sindh info minister says party will also ensure its presence in meeting scheduled to take place in Lahore tomorrow

KARACHI:

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Peoples Party, while reiterating its support for the coalition government to finish its terms, asked former prime minister Imran Khan to tender an apology to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

In his address to the nation following Sunday's resounding victory in Punjab by-polls, the former premier had said that free and fair elections cannot take place under the current Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

"There is only one way [to rid the country of political instability]… free and fair election. When they were removing me, I had announced general elections but the courts overturned my decision. I still believe it was the right call," he said while addressing PTI supporters following his party’s landslide victory in Sunday’s by-elections.

کراچی: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری اور چیئرمین پی پی پی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی سربراہی میں پارٹی کی سینٹرل ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی کا ہائبرڈ اجلاس@BBhuttoZardari @AAliZardari pic.twitter.com/BqXyKq05oz

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 18, 2022

Calling the Chief Election Commissioner "dishonest", Imran in today’s victory speech asked him to resign as, according to him, free and fair elections cannot take place in the country under his supervision.

"Under this ECP, the free and fair election cannot take place. The country's biggest party does not trust it. I ask the CEC to resign. We have no confidence in you. You're a biased person and connected with a party," he alleged.

The hybrid meeting of the PPP with participants attending it in-person and via Zoom was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari in the wake of the landslide victory of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI).

"Today, the CEC [Central Executive Committee] discussed various issues in light of the by-polls in Punjab and reiterated its resolve to support the federal government and stand by coalition partners," Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said while speaking to the media outside Bilawal House in Karachi.

لائیو: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی سینٹرل ایگزیکٹو کمیٹی کے ہائبرڈ اجلاس کے بعد ہونے والی میڈیا بریفنگ https://t.co/ii51BT09y1

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 18, 2022

"The narrative of Imran Khan and his entire team about rigging the elections has now totally failed. He must tender an apology to the entire nation and Mr X and Y for his remarks and misguiding the people about institutions that his party would be defeated."

To a question about the fate of the Punjab Assembly, the provincial information minister said that a high-level meeting of all coalition partners will be convened on Tuesday in Islamabad where the further line of action would be decided.

Memon added that it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a government was changed through a democratic process in the parliament.

"Earlier, we had seen coups and undemocratic means such as 52-B etc to derail the democratic process. Now, we have sent Imran Khan packing when he lost the simple majority in the lower house [of parliament]," he said, adding that the main agenda of the incumbent government is to bring drastic reforms to the electoral process before holding the general elections in August 2023.

When asked about the neutrality of "umpires" in holding the elections, he said that Imran Khan would have not gotten a single seat, if they had not played an impartial role.

According to Memon, the PML-N and its coalition partners were defeated in the by-polls due to the tough decisions it took to acquire a loan from the IMF.

"We made the decision in the nation's interest, otherwise, the country would have become bankrupt," he said, adding that the present government has fulfilled all the agreement that was signed by the outgoing PTI government with the IMF.

To a question about the unpopularity of the PPP in Punjab, he said that his party is still popular in Punjab as it does not believe in "U-turn" politics.

'General elections only way out'

Meanwhile, PPP senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has said that the coalition government has lost the support of the masses, a day after the defeat in the crucial Punjab by-elections.

"From day one, I was of the stance that the government should announce a schedule for general elections instead of taking the reins of power," Khokhar said in a statement.

He added that it was clear from the results of the by-polls that the coalition government had lost the support of the masses.

The senator opined that a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be inked by a government with a fresh mandate.

"Critical decisions should be taken by a government that enjoys a five-year mandate," he added.

According to the Khokhar, it isn't possible to be "adorned with flowers with the inflation touching new heights."

He went on to say that the political parties are still stuck in the politics of 1990s, terming the ratio of youth in the population, curbing corruption and anti-establishment narrative as the essential element of today's politics.

The senator predicted yesterday's election results will further lessen political stability and make governance difficult.

"The country and its economy need stability which is only possible through general elections."

(With additional input from News Desk)