Election to be held as per schedule: Kh Asif

Election to be held as per schedule, says Kh Asif

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif says next General Election will be held as per schedule in the light of the Constitution.

He said this while addressing a joint news conference in Islamabad on Friday, alongside Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik and Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and Attaullah Tarar.

Khawaja Asif said general elections cannot be held under anyone s pressure and decision regarding elections will be taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in consultation with coalition partners.

On the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal added that Sindh and Balochistan are witnessing worst devastation due to recent floods and organizing general elections in next eight months seems impossible.

He further said efforts are being made to complete the rehabilitation process by April next year.

Ahsan Iqbal said final results of the new census will likely to come in March next year after which four months are required for delimitation of constituencies as per the Constitution. He said the current Assembly is going to complete its tenure in August next year after which general elections will be held.

Ahsan Iqbal said that objective of the campaign being run by Imran Khan is not to have elections in the country but to create chaos and uncertainty.

The Defence Minister added that PTI has been ruling in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for thirteen years and it has done nothing for the public welfare except institutionalizing corruption in the province. He said Imran Khan pursues politics of vendetta while PML-N leaders got relief from courts on merit.

Replying to a question, Khawaja Asif further said appointment of army Chief should not be a part of public discourse at a time when Pakistan is fighting a low intensity war against terrorism.