PPP postpones protest against polls

Khuhro threatens another protest call if concerns aren’t addressed

KARACHI:

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has postponed the Sindh-wide protest scheduled for Tuesday against holding fragmentary polls in the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, PPP leader Nisar Khuhro termed this move “a show of restraint” as he urged Pakistan’s institutions to note the public’s voice and hold simultaneous polls across the country.

He made it clear that if they do not address the public’s demands, they would announce another protest.

The PPP leader made his opposition to fragmentary polls clear, saying that it would not only ruin the country’s political system but would also raise questions about the transparency of the polls. On the other hand, he added, simultaneous polls after the completion of the five-year mandate would strengthen Pakistan.

It is important to note here that Pakistan is currently witnessing an impasse over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with major institutions of the country coming face to face since the provincial assemblies were dissolved this year.

The Supreme Court (SC) had granted political parties until April 26 to build consensus over provincial elections. Otherwise, the court had noted, its order regarding the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 would come into force.

A day earlier, PPP had announced protests to be held on April 25 throughout the province against court-mandated elections in Punjab, voicing their reservations against fragmentary polls.

Khuhro had sought both provincial and general elections on the same day and said that the party would hold protests across all district headquarters.

He had stressed that Section 69 of the Elections Act, 2017 dictated that elections should be held in the national and provincial assemblies on the same day. He had said that "Sindh would only accept same-day elections, not separate polls."

He had implied that there were "plans" to influence electoral results in the remaining two provinces by holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) first, and that holding elections on separate dates would be synonymous with dividing the country into two parts.

The PPP leader had urged the courts "not to become party to Imran Khan's conspiratorial efforts," adding that "Sindh would not allow for a wedge to be drawn between the country."

Khuhro had underscored that it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to oversee the provision of elections and to decide the date for elections. Therefore, he had said, the electoral watchdog should be given space to fulfil its duties.

"Any interference with the powers of the ECP would translate as an attempt to rig polls," he had said, urging the apex court to constitute a full bench to review its earlier orders concerning provincial elections.

Khuhro had also suggested that "if need be, Punjab and K-P assemblies may be restored" and permitted to complete their constitutional period. After this, he had said, caretaker governments could once again be set up, and elections held on the same date across the country.