President Dr Arif Alvi said Wednesday that he does not see general elections taking place in January, but stressed the need for transparent polls whenever they are staged.
During an interview with a TV Channel, President Alvi said: “I don’t believe the elections [will take place in the last week of January]. I think that the supreme judiciary has taken notice of it and it will issue an apt order.”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced last month that it would hold polls in the last week of January 2024, but did not give an exact date — prompting fears of another delay.
Alvi, during the interview, also called for free and fair elections, saying that it is crucial for Pakistan’s development. “…everyone is also calling for a level-playing field.” Ahead of the sought-after elections, he said that there is a need for the nation to become one. “Spirit of forgiveness builds nations,” he added.
Commenting on his party affiliation, Alvi said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is his leader. “I’ve found the PTI chairman to be honest in [his] financial dealings […] he is a patriotic Pakistani,” the president said while responding to a question regarding Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case.
