PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday decried the “absence of a level-playing field” in the country’s current political landscape, saying he had an “objection” to alleged inequality faced by political stakeholders as the country was heading towards elections.
The statement from the ex-foreign minister comes days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) assured political parties that transparent polls would be conducted in the country “as soon as possible” and a level-playing field would be provided to all political parties to take part in the democratic exercise.
Concerns on the poll timing have arisen from the ECP ruling out elections this year. It reasons its decision to push elections beyond November 9 based on the notification of the new digital 2023 census results and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, which states: “The ECP shall change constituencies after census is officially published.”
With elections potentially just a few months away, Bilawal has been engaging in public meetings and organising party meetings as part of the party’s electoral preparations of late. One such media interaction in this regard took place in Sukkur today.
During his talk, the PPP leader made a definite statement, insisting that a level playing field did not exist in the country. His response answered a question about the freedom of all political parties to campaign and function independently in the lead-up to the elections.
He remarked, “it exists for one person,” before adding: “The level-playing field is absent, and this is the basis of my objection.”
He also expressed his confidence in the ECP, emphasising that the electoral watchdog was the authority to announce the poll date.
“We will also request [the ECP] to hold polls timely,” Bilawal told journalists.
Bilawal emphasised that the most pressing issue confronting the country today was inflation, which he believed could only be alleviated through timely elections and the election of representatives who would advocate for their constituents in legislative bodies.
Expressing his condolences for the recent loss of lives in terror incidents, he said that the country must be moved away from the old governance and rules and prioritise delivering justice to the people.
