Pakistani parliament speaker says election to be delayed: Exclusive
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Pakistani Parliament Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf talks to Al Mayadeen in an exclusive interview, his first with an Arab media channel.
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Pakistani parliament speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (AFP)
The Pakistani elections are expected to be delayed around 3-4 months from October, Pakistani Parliament Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told Al Mayadeen's Proximate Aspect on Wednesday.
The Pakistani official discussed various domestic issues during his first interview with an Arab TV channel, including the general election, investments in Pakistan, and the numerous issues pertaining to former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Citing the elections as "very important", Ashraf highlighted the recent population census undertaken by the Pakistani government. This led to a decision to reconfigure electoral constituencies, a process projected to require substantial time, ultimately contributing to the election delay.
Speaking on the role of the Pakistani army in safeguarding investments, the Pakistani parliament speaker underlined the collective awareness of national challenges among government institutions, the military, and the people. He emphasized the optimistic aspect of the army's collaboration with the government and the populace with the aim of boosting the economy, notably the agricultural sector.
Addressing the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ashraf highlighted that this marked the first instance where a government led by Khan faced removal due to a political and parliamentary maneuver. Losing the majority in parliament led to a vote of no confidence and Khan's subsequent resignation.
Elaborating on Khan's response to his removal, Ashraf detailed that Khan opted for public protests and boycotting the National Assembly. However, these actions did not resonate with the MPs who prioritized productive legislative enactments benefiting the nation.
Governance remained a focal point, with Ashraf accentuating the importance of elected representatives' responsibility, dictated by the Pakistani constitution and the people they represent.
Imran Khan is currently imprisoned and barred from running for office for five years, while Kakar, 52, takes over the leadership of a nation that has been plagued by political and economic upheaval for months.
Since Khan was ousted as Prime Minister following a no-confidence vote in April 2022, the nation has seen political unrest, which culminated in his three-year graft prison sentence this weekend.
Although he has been barred from holding public office for five years, he is appealing his conviction and punishment.
With over 200 legal cases thrown at him, Khan asserts that these charges are politically driven, aimed at obstructing his participation in elections. His initial arrest and short detention in May led to several days of occasionally violent protests, marked by an unprecedented level of anger directed toward the military.
In recent months, authorities have taken a tough stance against Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, crushing his grassroots power by rounding up thousands of his supporters and officials.
The authorities responded with a severe crackdown that effectively quelled his street influence. Numerous of his supporters were apprehended, with some still held in custody to face military tribunals, while a majority of the party's leaders were arrested or went into hiding. Anticipated to be primarily composed of technocrats, the interim government will confront a challenging undertaking.
On matters of national security, Ashraf turned his attention to the Pakistani armed forces, highlighting their resolute battle against terrorism and underlining their substantial sacrifices. He sees the strength of the military as pivotal in the defense of the nation.
The Pakistani parliament speaker concluded by underscoring Pakistanis' profound reverence for their armed forces and their pivotal role in safeguarding the nation.
Pakistan's President Arif Alvi ordered the dissolution of the country's parliament earlier in August, which will allow the caretaker government to usher in elections as its ex-Premier Imran Khan remained imprisoned.
A statement from the office of Pakistan's President said he had disbanded parliament following the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was quoted saying, "This country cannot progress until we have national unity."
In an unusual collaboration, the typically conflicting dynastic parties of Pakistan, which united to remove Khan from power, have garnered limited popular support while governing the world's fifth-most populous nation. Meanwhile, the country's economy remains sluggish. This is due to substantial foreign debt, a sharp rise in inflation, and widespread unemployment due to factories being inactive, as they lack the foreign currency required to purchase raw materials.
