Bilawal distances PPP from Zardari’s statement on election timing

Karachi: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday publicly distanced his party from his father former president Asif Ali Zardari's recent statement supporting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in conducting elections after completion of constituency delimitation.

Earlier in the day, PPP Co-chairman Zardari had expressed his full confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), stating that fresh delimitation, in line with the 2023 census, was mandatory.

However, the PPP, following a central executive committee (CEC) meeting on August 25, had demanded that elections be held within the constitutionally mandated 90 days.

“اس وقت عوام مشکل میں ہیں، پریشانی اور تکلیف میں ہیں، تاریخی غربت، مہنگائی اور بیروزگاری کا سامنا کررہے ہیں، آپ کو معلوم ہے کہ اگر ہمیں پاکستان کی عوام کو ان مسائل سے نکالنا ہے، پسماندہ طبقات کا خیال رکھنا ہے تو ایک ہی جماعت ہے جو عوام دوست ہے، غریب دوست ہے، مزدور اور کسان دوست… pic.twitter.com/3Y8pMmpOLd

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 9, 2023

During a press conference in Badin, PPP Chairman Bilawal was questioned about the discrepancy between his stance and his father's on the timing of elections.

In response, Bilawal suggested asking Zardari for clarification regarding his statement. He recalled the PPP's CEC meeting, chaired by both himself and the former president, during which the forum deliberated on the timing of elections. All of the party's legal experts at the meeting asserted that the Constitution unequivocally stipulates that elections must be conducted within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies.

Bilawal emphasized that while he is bound to follow President Zardari on family matters, political matters, the Constitution, and party policy are areas where he adheres to the decisions made by his party's central executive committee and its members.

چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا ڈی سی چوک بدین پہنچنے پر فیقدالمثال استقبال، پورا شہر امنڈ آیا، جئے بھٹو کے نعروں کی گونج

#عوام_کی_پکار_بلاول pic.twitter.com/aNJOpOJIcT

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 9, 2023

Zardari's defense of the ECP today centered on the necessity for a fresh delimitation process following the notification of the new census. The statement, conveyed through the PPP's social media accounts, underscored the electoral authority's responsibility to hold elections in accordance with the Constitution.

Zardari's statement came in the wake of appeals from various PPP leaders, including party chairman Bilawal, urging the ECP to announce the date for general elections and uphold the constitutional requirement of holding elections within 90 days. These demands were reiterated during a consultative meeting between the PPP delegation and members of the ECP.