General election will be held next year: Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the prime minister has completed consultation on the name of the caretaker prime minister.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold a meeting with opposition leader Raja Riaz on Wednesday (tomorrow) to finalise the name.

Talking to Hum News programme “HUM DEKHEN GEY”, he said that due to the busy schedule of the opposition leader, the meeting that was scheduled for today could not take place.

He questioned new constituency delimitations will be completed in 120 days, how can elections be held in 2023.

“Elections will take place in the first week of March or the last week of February next year,” Rana Sanaullah predicted.

The caretaker government will also exceed 90 days, which has not happened before, Rana Sanaullah speculated.

Even after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, elections were held, Rana Sanaullah recalled.

Rana Sanaullah said that for the interim prime minister slot, the prime minister and the opposition leader will suggest three names each.

He said that agreement could not be reached on the name of Ishaq Dar.

The interior minister said that an eligible candidate such as Abdul Hafeez Sheikh could be a contender for the interim prime minister slot. The names currently circulating in the media are all under consideration, said Rana Sanaullah.

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“If I say that the name of Fawad Hassan Fawad is not being considered, it will be construed as an offense to him. If I say that the name of Fawad Hassan Fawad is also under consideration, tomorrow it will be said that his name was rejected,” he remarked.

He said that people who have served in high positions should not be treated in such a manner.

“The names that are currently being discussed in the media are all preliminary and subject to further consideration,” Rana Sanaullah explained.

He said that “if Imran Khan’s family is implicated, we assure you that the law will take its course.”

He said that once the population census is approved, constituency delimitations will follow as per the constitution.

He said that he government or Islamabad police did not arrest the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief.

He said the arrest of the PTI chairman has been made under a court order. He said that the PTI chairman can be granted bail, but his sentence will remain in place.