LAHORE: General elections should take place on February 8 in the best interests of all relevant political forces and parties, according to interim federal minister for information, broadcasting, and parliamentary affairs Murtaza Solangi, who made this statement on Sunday.
Speaking at the eighth Think Fest 2024, the minister suggested that holding the elections on Thursday, February 8, as scheduled, would be beneficial for the nation.
He emphasized that Pakistan would be governed by elected representatives, as stated expressly in the Constitution’s preamble.
The minister claimed that everyone was grumbling about the equal playing field in the lead-up to the elections.
In that regard, Maulana Fazlur Rehman bemoaned the absence of fair playing fields in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as did the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muslim Pakistan League (N).
“The Pakistani working class actually faces unfair competition,” Solangi asserted.
Without a major change in the system permitting the common man to contest elections, there would not be a level playing field, he said.
The minister emphasized that voting rights for members in the election of party officers should be granted to all political parties.
He stated that he thought the ruling made by the Apex Court yesterday set a solid precedent.
He continued, saying it would have been preferable if the panel had included legal professionals who could have explained the legal issue.
Solangi stated that the country’s primary challenges are political instability and economic survival, adding that the incoming government may have economic difficulties.
“The economy needs to improve. It is challenging to operate the nation when large loans and other obligations take up the majority of the total budget, he said.
Although the minister claimed that the agricultural sector provided roughly 25% of the nation’s GDP, very little tax revenue was actually collected from it.
Furthermore, he continued, the population was growing quickly, placing a strain on industries like education and health.
According to him, Pakistan is also suffering greatly from climate change.
“We cannot become economically strong unless we improve our relations with our neighboring countries,” Solangi insisted.
Regarding the Balochistani demonstrators in Islamabad, the minister stated that although they were provided the option to hold their sit-in at F-9 Park or H-9, they refused, insisting instead on heading to the D Chowk in the Red Zone.
“No group, be it political or religious, is allowed to enter the Red Zone,” Solangi stated.
He claimed that when the demonstrators camped outside the National Press Club attempted to enter the Red Zone, the police had to intervene. Following discussions with them, the women and children who had been detained by the police were freed first by the government’s negotiation committee. In the second phase, an additional 163 individuals were released, and at last, the last 34 were also freed.
He said, “The demonstrators were also given medical facilities, including an ambulance.”
