Zardari opposes elections beyond October

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari this week said polls should not be postponed beyond October.

Reacting to some ministers’ statements hinting at the possibility of postponing general elections, he said such a move will be “foolish.”

In an interview, the former president called for early elections to be held on a level playing field for all parties. He emphasized the need for all political parties to come together and agree on a single date for the elections, as this would help prevent any potential interference from external forces.

When asked about the possibility of general elections taking place this year, Zardari said that the decision on the timing of the elections would be made by the coalition parties using their collective wisdom.

However, he also emphasized the need to prioritize the economy, the functioning of the assemblies, and relationships with friendly nations before calling for elections.

Responding to a query about possibility of Imran Khan winning the upcoming elections, PPP leader expressed doubt that the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman can secure a two-thirds majority in today’s Pakistan.

He also noted that the PTI’s social media presence was strong, but cautioned that false propaganda presented on those platforms could mislead the public.

When asked about his role in bringing the ruling coalition to power, he revealed that he had convinced Shehbaz Sharif to consider running for Prime Minister before the coalition took office.

The former president expressed his confidence in the continued strength of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance.

He also stated that he believed the recent development of relations between his party and the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) would further strengthen due to their shared interests in Karachi and other parts of the Sindh province.

When asked about a former Punjab chief minister who had been approached to join the PDM, the PPP leader revealed that Parvez Elahi had expressed interest but later backed out due to “miscalculations.” However, he remained hopeful that Elahi would eventually join the alliance.