Govt bound to meet ECP requirements: Solangi

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said on Thursday that the caretaker government was constitutionally bound to meet the financial, administrative and security requirements of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Talking to the media outside the ECP, Solangi said that God willing, the elections will be held in the country on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

He said under the constitution, the ECP had the responsibility to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

The caretaker government was constitutional and legal, and it stood behind the Election Commission, Solangi said.

The minister said that security issues were real, and the government was aware of them and it will improve the security situation.

To a question, he said only Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf can tell better about PTI-related matters. He said that there was no ban on raising questions in the country.

A day earlier, Solangi reiterated the commitment that general elections would eventually be held on February 8.

Talking to the media, Solangi said that in the past, elections were conducted even in the worst conditions. He pointed out that the current situation in the country was much better than what it was in 2008 and 2013.

He said that the government has been in constant contact with the Election Commission of Pakistan since the first meeting of the caretaker cabinet.

Solangi expressed the optimism that security situation in the country would further improve in the coming days.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECP would provide information regarding the foreign media teams’ arrival in Pakistan for election coverage.

To a question, he said that election activities would hopefully pick up momentum after the announcement of the candidates of the political parties as all parties were commencing their election campaigns now.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has also announced a rally to start its election campaign on January 15, he said and added that election activities would further accelerate in days ahead.