—– Interim PM, ECP urged to ensure election on time
—– PM congratulates Kakar for selection on post
—– Terms development “welcoming”, given Kakar’s arrival from Balochistan
—– Says a “good name” was agreed upon
By Anzal Amin
Islamabad: Political parties on Sunday expressed hope that the ECP and interim government will ensure transparent general elections in the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed hope that the caretaker PM-designate Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar will ensure the conduct of transparent, free, and impartial elections, which are likely to take place next year.
The premier’s message for Kakar came in a statement released by the PM’s Office on Sunday in which he also congratulated him for being selected for the coveted post. The prime minister termed Kakar’s choice for the top position as a “welcoming” development as the senator hails from Balochistan. PM Shehbaz referred to the caretaker prime minister as an educated and patriotic person.
The premier said that the administration under his own leadership has worked hard day and night to bring the country to economic stability in the last 16 months, hoping for Kakar’s interim government to con-tinue ensuring the same policies for keeping the economy stable.
He has urged Kakar to ensure continuity of development, construc-tion, and economic improvement, which is essential for the betterment of Pakistan and its people.
“I pray that the caretaker prime minister and his cabinet fulfill the ex-pectations of the people and the constitution,” PM Shehbaz said in his message for the interim premier. The prime minister further thanked Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz who helped in the consultation process.
“A good name was agreed upon while following the constitutional procedure,” a statement released by the PM Office mentioned quoting the premier.
A day earlier, Senator Kakar was appointed as the eighth caretaker prime minister of Pakistan, after consensus was reached between the outgoing PM and Riaz, following which President Dr Arif Alvi signed the advice sent by them.
Senator Kakar is currently the chairman of the Balochistan Awami Par-ty (BAP), and he is widely regarded as an intellectual. He holds a Mas-ter’s degree in Political Science and Sociology, and he is an alumnus of the University of Balochistan.
“The trust entrusted in Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar’s name by all the parties is a sign of our right choice,” the statement read. Meanwhile, The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is likely to decide the schedule for the upcoming general elections or delimitations of constituencies by the next week, after the electoral body’s meeting this week.
The meeting to be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sul-tan Sikandar Raja will decide on all significant issues in the light of the impending polls and fresh delimitations.
Highly-placed sources in the ECP said that the commission was en-gaged in observing the developments quietly.
The appointment of a caretaker prime minister and initiation of the process for the establishment of a caretaker administration in Sindh and Balochistan, have made it imperative for the commission to take decisive action for holding polls.
The commission would have to determine the day for fresh elections or to initiate delimitations of constituencies on the basis of the digital census concluded recently.
The actions of the commission would be within the constitutional framework.
The ECP had its full quorum meeting last week and opted to maintain silence on sensitive subjects.
The sources revealed that the commission had also sought legal guidance on the issues from its relevant wing. The next step would be taken in the light of report to be submitted by the wing, the sources said.
Meanwhile, political observers aren’t hopeful about holding of elec-tions within the stipulated time period of 90 days and the whole pro-cess could take eight months.
The commission would take all political parties and relevant stake-holders on board upon taking the final decision about its course of action, the sources added.
