Polls date to be decided by ECP: Interim PM

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would decide the date for the upcoming general elections.

In an interview with a private television, the interim premier said parliament had passed a law according to which election supervisor had the power to announce the date for the new polls.

He stressed that speculations regarding elections should end as these would be held according to the existing law, adding that “we have no intention to prolong the tenure of the caretaker government”.

Separately, Kakar directed the caretaker religious affairs minister and secretary to finalize arrangements for Hajj under their supervision.

The premier was chairing a preparatory meeting regarding Hajj 2024.

According to a statement of the PM Office Media Wing, he also called for setting up a committee to review the Hajj arrangements and opined that there should be no compromise on the arrangements for the pilgrims.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to submit a comprehensive report on the complaints filed by the pilgrims regarding this year’s Hajj.

The relevant ministry and the Ministry of Information Technology were directed to launch a mobile application and website to facilitate and register complaints for the intending pilgrims in the upcoming season through their joint collaboration.

Also, the premier said that the government was prioritising to uplift the backward areas at par with the developed parts of the country.

In a meeting with World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassaine, Kakar hailed the institution’s role for the development of backward areas particularly the remote parts of Balochistan.

He noted that the World Bank had played its role in providing relief and rehabilitating the people affected by the unprecedented floods in 2022.

In a meeting with a delegation of the Christian community, the prime minister maintained that all minorities in Pakistan enjoyed equal rights, assuring them of complete protection of their rights and security.