ECP makes plain caretaker govt's job is to conduct elections only: Sheikh Rashid
Pakistan
Says it is a week of decisions
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made it clear that the task of the caretaker government is to conduct elections only.
Rashid, while issuing a message on the social media website X (formerly Twitter), said it was a week of decisions.
The senior politician said, “An important decision on NAB amendments is expected from the Supreme Court on Friday and whatever decision is taken by the Supreme Court on Friday is usually of vital significance.”
He said the appointment of the federal ministers and advisers for the interim setup was also expected this week. The president sent back the 13 amendment bills approved by the Senate this week.
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) August 16, 2023
Rashid said, “The poor masses are already bearing the brunt of sky-high inflation but they have to suffer more this week. After increase in petrol and diesel prices, the dollar rate will go up to Rs302, while electricity and gas tariffs will also witness a sharp increase.”
The AML head said the ECP would also issue a policy statement about delimitations of constituencies under the new census this week. Provincial caretaker governments would also be formed this week. He said some leaders of the PDM were now talking about the caretaker prime minister.
The PDM leaders first gave all the decision authority to Shehbaz Sharif regarding appointment of caretaker prime minister and Sharif deemed it appropriate to make an announcement (regarding caretaker PM) through Raja Riaz.
He said the ECP had made it clear that task of the caretaker government was only to conduct elections. The former interior minister said transfers and postings and all development works would not be done without permission of the ECP. The date of the elections would be decided by the Election Commission.
In his statement, Rashid further said that being a blue-eyed boy (of establishment) was important, but the final decision would be taken by the masses. People’s will would prevail in the end, he said.
