Khawaja Asif: President can’t decide election date

ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former federal minister Khawaja Asif has asserted that President Arif Alvi’s recent communication with the Election Commission of Pakistan does not signify the opening of a contentious issue.

Speaking during an appearance on the Hum News programme Hum Dekhenge with Mansoor Ali Khan, Khawaja Asif emphasised that the President of Pakistan has refrained from specifying a precise election date, instead expressing his personal viewpoint.

Asif pointed out that the President’s message was unclear and doesn’t mention an election date.

“It is imperative to underscore that the President lacks the authority to unilaterally determine the election date,” he added.

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The former defense minister also confirmed that Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to return on October 21, marking the commencement of a new phase.

He underscored that Sharif’s return is an exercise of his fundamental right to return to his homeland, and he cautioned against unwarranted speculation regarding the involvement of the current establishment in facilitating his return.

Regarding the timeline for elections, Asif asserted that the prospect of conducting elections within a 90-day window is improbable. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) agreed with this view before signing the Charter of Democracy during a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Asif also commented on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), noting that the PTI’s leader has assumed a diminished role within the country, while individuals associated with him, who were previously situated in the Western world, have become increasingly active. He further mentioned the engagement of certain lobbyists on the PTI’s behalf.