PM Kakar irked at media ‘misquoting’ statement on elections minus Imran.

Tension between Caretaker PM Kakar and PTI over Fair Elections

PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently expressed frustration over perceived misconceptions regarding his comments about the potential for fair elections without PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Khan is currently on judicial remand after originally being imprisoned for “corrupt practices”. Despite this, his conviction has been temporarily suspended.

In a recent interview, PM Kakar suggested that fair polls would still be feasible even without the participation of Khan and his party leaders, all of whom ended up behind bars as part of a nationwide crackdown following violent disturbances on May 9.

This statement sparked a strong rebuttal from PTI, which argued that elections without Khan would be “unconstitutional and illegal”. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also strongly criticized PM Kakar’s comments, labeling them “anti-democratic” and “ill-judged”.

(Read Also: Insights on Pakistan’s Future: A Discussion at Oxford Union with PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar)

PM Kakar’s Clarifications, Election Process Intricacies and Current Dilemmas

In response to these controversies, PM Kakar asserted that the exact circumstances for the upcoming elections were beyond his direct control. He expressed dissatisfaction with how his sentiments regarding the issue were often misconstrued in the media.

PM Kakar emphasized that the verity of whether Khan would participate in the impending elections is a matter of national law. He pointed out that the same regulations that disallow a British-Pakistani citizen from partaking in the electoral process would also guide the participation of political leaders. Therefore, the decision about whether Khan can participate in the election remains in the domain of legal affairs, not political or administrative.

Kakar also explained that the caretaker government’s role does not include the capacity to manipulate laws, procedures, and due processes related to elections. Despite any personal intentions to the contrary, PM Kakar professed that his hands are tied regarding these legal elements.

(Read Also: Pakistan’s PM claims TTP Presence and Training Camps in Afghanistan)

The Upcoming Election: An Official Date to be Announced

Speculation continues to mount concerning the official date of the forthcoming general election. PM Kakar assured that the Election Commission of Pakistan would soon reveal the date. Without a doubt, the events that will unfold in the run-up to this announcement are crucial to the democratic future of Pakistan and will likely remain a central point of discussion both nationally and internationally.

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