Except for Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), all major political parties in Pakistan expressed their welcome for the Supreme Court's timely announcement of the schedule for the February 8 general elections on Saturday. They credited the apex court for thwarting a perceived "major conspiracy" to delay the polls, thereby safeguarding democracy.
Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI, however, continued to voice concerns about the alleged biases of bureaucrats appointed as poll officers, as reported by Dawn newspaper. Despite this, the party reiterated its commitment to seeking timely, free, and fair polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revealed the election schedule late on Friday night after the Supreme Court intervened to suspend an order by the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the appointment of bureaucrats as Returning Officers (ROs).
While welcoming the decision, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif praised the Supreme Court for thwarting what he called a "conspiracy against democracy and the Constitution." He emphasized that the decision strengthened democracy and protected the Constitution.
PML-N leader Ishaq Dar asserted that holding polls was the sole responsibility of the ECP, aligning with the view that timely elections were crucial under the prevailing circumstances and constitutional requirements.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) representative Aminul Haq in Karachi applauded the decision for putting an end to uncertainties and speculations surrounding the general elections. Similarly, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Punjab Secretary General Hasan Murtaza stated that a significant conspiracy to delay polls had been averted.
Despite expressing its concerns and demanding the announcement of the polls schedule, the PTI remained focused on the appointment of bureaucrats as ROs and DROs. After the Supreme Court's verdict, PTI’s Punjab chapter posted on X, highlighting the contradiction of a deputy commissioner not allowing PTI to hold a convention but now being tasked with conducting elections.
On social media, the official PTI handle posted, expressing confidence that the people of Pakistan would reject "fascism and oppression" on February 8, 2024. The party's handle also shared a video of its new chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan, denying allegations that the PTI sought to derail the February 8 general polls, emphasizing their commitment to fair elections while maintaining reservations about the appointment of bureaucrats as ROs.
