PML-N expects elections in January

Aurangzeb says party first to kick-start polls preparations

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was the first party to kick-start the electioneering process as it expected the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would hold the vote in January next year, as per its announcement, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Wednesday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Aurangzeb pointed out that the PML-N had created election cells, parliamentary boards, invited application for tickets from intending candidates and set up a manifesto committee, that all indicated that it wanted the elections at the earliest.

She also rebuffed the impression that the party had shied away from elections, stressing that it was first to demand the general elections. “Even now, we are the first to start formal preparations for elections,” Aurangzeb said.

When asked if the PML-N backed the PPP’s demand for the elections, Marrium said that there was no doubt that they had asked for the elections, adding their demand was not from the ECP.

She said the ECP was following its schedule and completing the formalities for holding the elections. “They are not to be blamed for [the delay].”

For long, the PML-N had abstained from publicly speaking about the need for holding the general elections within the 90-day limit set by the Constitution. Even now, it continues to back the ECP on its decision to delay the elections till completion of delimitation process.

“The ECP is following its schedule and completing the Codal formalities for elections, so they [ECP] are not to blame for it,” Aurangzeb said, adding however, the PML-N expected of the ECP to hold elections in January as it had announced.

According to some PML-N sources, after the return of Nawaz to the country on October 21, the party felt that it had the momentum going for it, and the sooner elections were held, the more chances would have to secure maximum seats.

The PML-N spokesperson said that provincial presidents of the party had been told to propose a plan and dates of the visits by party Quaid Nawaz Sharif to their respective provinces. Replying to a question, she said that rallies would be held in the run up to the elections but there were no plans as of now.

About any meeting between Nawaz and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari, Aurangzeb said that there was no development in this regard. PPP Spokesperson Faisal Karim Kundi also confirmed that so far, the PML-N had not contacted the party for scheduling a meeting between Nawaz and Zardari.

Kundi told The Express Tribune that it was good to see that the PML-N too was demanding elections. He said that Nawaz had left the narrative of “accountability” and “respect for vote” [vote ko Izzat do] in London and came back with a new narrative.

“This would mean that the PML-N now wanted its principle [amount back] with interest by getting a back-door access to the prime minister’s office. Indeed the level-playing field was snatched from the PML-N in 2018 but one injustice cannot undo another injustice,” the PPP spokesperson said.