Zardari terms taking polls beyond October ‘foolish’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari has rubbished the idea of holding general elections beyond October, asserting that the only dispute was timing of the polls.
When the ex-president, in an interview with Geo News anchor Hamid Mir on Friday, was asked about concerns that the ruling coalition would delay elections beyond October, he said it was not possible and the idea was a “foolish thought”.
He said elections should be held as early as possible, but on the same day and with a level playing field for all parties.
For this purpose, he suggested all political parties sit together and develop a consensus on a single date for the elections. “Because you are unaware of the nefarious designs of our enemies,” he remarked.
“Coalition parties will decide, through collective wisdom, the time and date of next elections,” the PPP leader said when asked if the country would not see general elections this year. “But first we have to take care of our economy, our assemblies and friendly countries,” he added.
He asserted that elections could not be held before the economy was stabilised and strained relations with friendly states were fully revived.
To lend strength to his argument of holding provincial and general elections on the same day, the PPP leader cited multiple factors such as “insurgencies” in provinces and pending funds from friendly counties.
When asked about his proposal to hold talks with the PTI and what else he had to offer to the opposition party other than the elections, the ex-president reiterated: “I am not refusing elections, my only dispute is regarding the dates”.
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