These allegations are surfacing against the backdrop of the special treatment accorded to Nawaz Sharif upon his return from the UK, despite the absence of a set election date, despite the PPP’s appeals to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Aitzaz Ahsan made these statements while addressing journalists at a Qul event for the wife of PPP senior leader Navid Chaudhry.
He went on to express Nawaz Sharif’s eagerness to once again hold the position of prime minister and suggested that if that’s his aspiration, it should be allowed. Aitzaz Ahsan also noted the absence of a functioning democratic system in the country, reflecting the current political landscape’s uncertainty.
Responding to inquiries about the potential election date, Aitzaz Ahsan remarked that, given the current political situation, nothing can be definitively stated about elections being held by the end of January 2024.
In a related development, the spokesperson for PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Zulfikar Ali Bader, voiced concerns about perceived disparities in the treatment of political leaders. Bader emphasized that when one leader is subjected to one set of rules and another to a different set, questions of favoritism naturally arise.
He recalled that PPP leadership had advised Nawaz Sharif not to leave the country in 2019, especially considering medical grounds, and urged him to confront the situation in Pakistan with courage. Bader raised concerns about the public’s perception of Nawaz Sharif’s return, suggesting that it reflected poorly on the caretaker government’s reputation and raised suspicions of partiality. He stressed that all political parties have the right to participate in elections on a level playing field.
In light of these concerns, the spokesperson called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to promptly announce the date for the upcoming elections, eliminating any further delays.