ISLAMABAD: Ruling out possibility of any delay in general elections, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that polls would be announced and conducted on time.

PM’s statement comes amid growing demand from various quarters for immediate announcement of poll date.

“I don’t see any possibility (of delay in elections). I don’t have any confusion at all. I feel elections will be announced and conducted on time,” he said in an interview with private television channel.

Reiterating his government’s resolve to hold free and fair elections, he said all registered political parties had legal and constitutional rights to canvass, mobilise people and attract public support.

In an apparent reference to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, he said that government would not be responsible if someone was legally barred from political process.

To question, he emphasised effective law enforcement, saying that his government, with cooperation from military leadership had implemented existing laws to crack down illegal currency businesses and hoarders.

He called for capacity building of civilian institutions for implementation of law. Establishment of democratic system within political parties was essential for democracy in country.

To another question, PM Kakar said that he had interacted with all political leaders before assuming office but never thought of joining any party, though being citizen, he had right to join party or form his own.

Rubbishing the allegations of the caretaker government’s tilt towards PML-N, he said political parties usually create such impressions before elections with view to attract public support.

He appreciated leadership qualities of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and said that Pakistan’s future was in capable and committed hands. To question, he said that he was comfortable with military leadership.

On cypher issue, Kakar said that it was property of state and exposing it for other than prescribed usage was unjustified, though court has yet to ascertain its illegality.

He revealed that in 2013 and 2018 elections, he had voted for PTI with intention of finding solutions to Pakistan’s challenges in areas such as infrastructure, economy, foreign policy and country’s international image, not for attacking GHQ.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 12 2023

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