Islamabad: PPP senior leader Senator Raza Rabbani has criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) dealings with foreign diplomats.
Foreign dignitaries meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in his personal capacity and expressing statements on the election timeline and transparency have concerned the former Senate chairman. Pakistan’s elections are internal. Not a client state.”
The experienced lawmaker believes foreign participation should not compromise Pakistan’s political independence.
The country’s highest electoral authority has met with all significant players to reach an agreement for the 2019 elections.
The ECP has consulted with PPP, PML-N, PTI, MQM-P, JI, JUI-F, BNP, BAP, and ANP.
The electoral authority pledged again a day earlier to finish delimitation by December and organise elections by mid-February.
After delimiting constituencies using the updated census, the PML-N delegation supported the election organiser last week.
While, The electoral monitor reported that the Nawaz Sharif-led party notified the ECP that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) overwhelmingly approved census results dissemination.
Moreover, All major parties agreed to hold 2023 elections using the revised census. The PML-N informed the ECP that the Election Commission’s delimitation schedule is constitutional and legal, according to the watchdog.
The electoral body also met with JUI-F and PTI representatives separately.
In those sessions, the JUI-F supported the ECP holding general elections after delimitation, while the PTI pushed the electoral watchdog to halt the process and have polls within 90 days.
