Elections expected next year in Feb or March, claims Rana Sanaullah

Islamabad:  Interior Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Rana Sanaullah said that the general elections were expected to take place in the third week of February or the first week of March, following the completion of new delimitations.

He made this claim during an interview with a private news channel on Monday.

Rana Sanaullah highlighted the constitutional requirement for fresh delimitation, which would set the stage for the upcoming general elections. He mentioned that the delimitation process was set to be finalized by December 2023.

Addressing the recent arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Rana Sanaullah clarified that the former premier did not resist his arrest and was not subjected to any form of torture.

Elaborating on the conditions within jails, Sanaullah emphasized that they do not resemble luxurious five-star hotels. He pointed out that the PTI chief has consistently advocated for all inmates to be treated equally and not be allowed to bring meals from their homes.

 Sanaullah shared that they, too, were kept in the same jails and prison cells, but if the PTI chief desires better facilities, he should submit a formal request to the court or jail superintendent, which the government will duly consider.

Regarding the verdict on the Toshakhana case, Sanaullah dismissed any notion of haste by the judge. He mentioned that the judge provided ample opportunities to the PTI chief's counsels to present evidence. Although the PTI chief might be granted bail in the near future, the case, penalty, and disqualification will still stand.

When questioned about the potential impact of the local government (LG) polls results on the upcoming general elections, Rana Sanaullah maintained that the outcomes of the LG polls cannot accurately predict the results of the next general polls.