Interim govt has no role in fixing polls date: Solangi

Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Wednesday said the date for the upcoming general election would be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which was constitutionally responsible to conduct the polls in the country.

The minister, in an interview with CNN, clarified that the interim government had no role in fixing the polls date.
Solangi said there might be a “slight delay” in the elections as the new census had been notified.

“Once the census is notified, the Election Commission of Pakistan—a constitutional body responsible for conducting elections—needs four months to complete the delimitation exercise.”

Subsequently, a constitutionally mandated 54-day period was allocated for political parties to conduct election campaigns, he added.

Meanwhile, the information minister commended the joint effort of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force for successfully rescuing all individuals who were stranded on the chairlift in the remote valley of Hindkush and Korakram mountain ranges in Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.

The operation was carried out with meticulous coordination, ensuring the safety of the trapped passengers, he said, adding that the district administration on receiving the news approached the provincial and regional administrations that subsequently alerted the federal authorities.

He detailed the comprehensive rescue mission, which involved deploying helicopters from the Pakistan Army and Air Force, along with a commanding officer from the SSG and his troops who led the efforts on the ground.

The minister said an extensive inspection of all chairlifts and cable cars in the region had already been initiated by the provincial authorities.

Solangi said the remote area, affected by both climate change and seismic activity, had witnessed natural disasters, including an earthquake in 2005 and extreme flooding in 2010 that destroyed the infrastructure of the area.