ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that next general elections were not possible before July-August 2023 in wake of relief and rehabilitation activities in flood hit areas of country and delimitation after results of new population census.

“In March 2023, results of new population census would be received and after that, Election Commission of Pakistan would require at least four months to finalise delimitation across country, so time frame automatically goes till July-August 2023 and before this, holding of next general elections is not possible administratively,” he said.

Talking to media he said government will remain engaged in rehabilitation of people in flood areas for next six to eight months.  “If Imran Khan is insisting to announce date for elections, so I am giving him date today that next general elections would be held in October 2023.”  Ahsan Iqbal maintained that Imran Khan himself knew very well that elections were not possible in next six to eight months but he was making fuss and threatening of calling Long March and sit-in against sitting government only to sabotage country’s economy and to demoralise certain institutions.

Imran Khan tried to obstruct launch of mega China Pakistan Economic Corridor back in 2014 when due to his sit-in in Islamabad, visit of Chinese President delayed that resulted in delay of CPEC project by around 10 months. Now again, Mr Khan is threatening to call a long march when the 11th Joint Coordination Committee on CPEC, an important decision making body is going to be held by end of current month, he said.

Prime Minister’s important visit to China is also likely next month, so in this context, any attempt to destabilise government would dent CPEC’s progress.  To a question, he said senior leadership of Muslim League -N could not participate in election campaign of recent by-elections because everybody was engaged in restoration activities in flood hit areas. Meanwhile, addressing All Pakistan Chartered Accountants Conference 2022 here, he said Pakistan’s economic growth was halted again and again due to political instability and discontinuation of economic policies.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 20 2022

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