Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah stated that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would take a firm position if there are any indications of delaying the general elections in the country. The coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has announced the dissolution of assemblies on August 9. According to the constitution, general elections should be held within 90 days of the assemblies’ term ending.

However, recent statements about holding elections based on the 2023 census have raised concerns. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed its inability to conduct polls based on the new population count within the stipulated time due to the need for fresh constituency delimitation, which may take several months.

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While some ruling allies, including the PPP, previously opposed holding elections based on the new census, their silence during the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting has sparked questions.

Shah stated that he initially believed elections would take place on time according to the Constitution. However, he now has concerns about the possibility of elections happening on November 12 or 13, considering the delimitation process, which takes around four months.

Regarding the appointment of a caretaker prime minister, Shah emphasized the importance of following the Constitution. He mentioned that committees typically form to select a caretaker prime minister, and they have finalized five names, excluding active politicians who may have direct or indirect links to any party.

Using himself, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, and Senator Raza Rabbani as examples, Shah argued that appointing active politicians might raise concerns about potential “rigging.” He affirmed that his loyalty to the PPP is natural, and such appointments should be acknowledged.