Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, dismissed any directives from the Prime Minister or the federal cabinet advocating a delay in the general elections. Speaking outside the Parliament House, he revealed that despite a resolution in the Senate urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone elections due to severe weather and security concerns, he did not have the opportunity to present his argument.
Article 218(3) of the Constitution empowers the ECP to set election dates or make adjustments as needed, Solangi explained. Emphasizing the non-interference in constitutional matters, he acknowledged the genuine problems cited in the resolution, noting that such challenges are not unprecedented in Pakistan’s parliamentary history.
The minister stressed that addressing issues like harsh weather and security falls under the government’s purview, and as of now, there are no signals from any quarters regarding election postponement. He reiterated that only the ECP possesses the constitutional authority to make such decisions.
In response to the resolution’s passage, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief, Sirajul Haq, strongly opposed it, labeling it a conspiracy against the country and democracy. Haq declared his party’s stance for free and fair elections on February 8, 2024, dismissing any delay based on law and order issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan as a surrender to destabilizing forces.
Taking to social media, Haq underscored the importance of timely elections in restoring peace and harmony, asserting that it is the basic right of the masses to choose their representatives through a fair electoral process. He urged against depriving the people of Pakistan of this fundamental right under any circumstances.
