The people of Pakistan will not accept any attempt to derail the democratic dispensation in the country through postponement of the general elections.
Sindh Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuhro made this categorical remark on Saturday while addressing a press conference at the media cell of Bilawal House on Saturday. He was accompanied by former leaders of the Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan Raza Haroon and Anis Advocate who recently joined the PPP.
The Sindh PPP president lamented that after the passage of the resolution from the Senate in favour of delaying the general elections, speculations were taking rounds that a financial emergency could be imposed in the country after postponing the polls. He said that all such proposals went against the spirit of democracy.
He claimed that those propagating the proposal that the February 8 general polls should be deferred were challenging the authority of the apex judiciary and also committing contempt of court.
He informed media persons that both the people of the country and the PPP wanted the upcoming general elections to be held on the announced date of February 8.
Senator Khuhro was of the view that the people of the country would not accept any conspiracy against the democratic dispensation in the country. He recalled that the past general elections had never been deferred due to adverse law and order situations or natural calamities in the country. He claimed that passage of the resolution by the Senate in favour of postponing the general polls despite the lack of quorum in the upper house of Parliament was tantamount to committing contempt of court.
The PPP leader claimed that the resolution was passed in the Senate as part of the conspiracy to keep the people of the country away from the constitutional right of choosing their elected leadership. He said the resolution passed in the Senate would have no bearing on the upcoming general elections as the Election Commission of Pakistan was under an obligation to conduct the polls on the scheduled date of February 8 following the Supreme Court’s directives.
Answering a question, the senator told media persons that the share of the provinces in the National Finance Commission Award could not be slashed and it could only be further increased as per the constitution. He claimed that the PPP fully believed in serving all the people in the country without discriminating on the grounds of ethnicity or language.
Speaking on the occasion, Haroon and Anees reaffirmed their resolve to strive for prosperity and development of Karachi as per the aspirations of the leadership of the PPP. They said they had decided to join the PPP with their vision to serve the public without any discrimination or prejudice on ethnic grounds.