KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party rejected the general election results on Friday and called upon all members of the Election Commission of Pakistan to step down, but made it clear that the PPP would not boycott the newly-elected parliament.

After a meeting of senior party leaders at Bilawal House, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari chose to address a press conference himself and ruled out any flexibility over the party’s stance. But “for the sake of the democratic order’s stability”, he said, his party had decided not to boycott parliament.

He also hinted at contacts with those parties which had decided that their newly-elected legislators would not take the oath and at attempts to persuade them to play their role inside parliament.

Bilawal takes ECP to task over failure to hold free and fair elections

“We completely reject this electoral process,” he said. “But you know we are PPP, and not any other party, and that’s why we feel it’s our responsibility to save the democratic process.

“It was not a legitimate or free and fair election, but we look forward to pursuing our case in parliament and acting as strong opposition. However, with this commitment we stick to our demand that all members of the Election Commission step down as they have failed to hold free and fair elections,” Bilawal Bhutto said.

The PPP chairman said it was a “golden chance” for the nation to make a new beginning through a civilised, democratic process, but it was badly damaged as the ECP did nothing to stop rigging.

Asked about any offer or contact by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the PPP chairman raised his tone and tenor, emphatically ruling out an alliance with PTI.

“We will sit in opposition and work for a strong opposition. This time we are taking a strong position and I repeat that the Election Commission should resign as it has failed to do its job,” he said.

In reply to a question about his party’s nominee for the Sindh chief minister’s office, the PPP chief replied: “It would be too early to comment on this subject.”

But he hastened to add: “As you all know, our Murad Ali Shah has done a great job as chief minister. So let’s see.”

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018