Islamabad, 11 July, 2023 (GNP): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in an interview on Monday said that the assemblies could dissolve earlier than 13 August to facilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Sanaullah said this while responding to a question regarding the rumors about the ruling party wanting to delay elections till November.
He expressed, “If the assemblies get dissolved on August 11 instead of August 13, the ECP will get more time to hold elections.”
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The interior minister also stated that the 90-day period did not mean the ECP would hold elections on the 90th day but could do so at any date of its choosing, “be it after 64 days or 72 days”.
“The assemblies will be dissolved after completing their term, after which the caretaker setup will come and elections will be held in accordance with the Constitution,” he assured.
However, Sanaullah said that the PML (N) and its leader Nawaz Sharif were in complete favor of on-time elections.
Moreover, the interior minister was asked whether the intent behind postponing the dissolution of assemblies was to “facilitate the ECP or politics” so that verdicts were issued in cases against the PTI chief, and Nawaz got time for the election campaign after his expected return before the elections.
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In response, Sanaullah said, “I don’t think the difference of 20 to 30 days makes much of a difference.” He added, “We have been managing matters according to constitutional requirements.”
Sanaullah’s remarks come as the final 30-day countdown to the end of the current parliament’s term and the government’s tenure is set to begin this week.
The National Assembly’s term, together with the provincial assembly of Sindh and Balochistan, is scheduled to expire on August 12.
