LAHORE (Daily Point) — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asserted on Saturday that the scheduled general elections on February 8 would proceed as planned, unaffected even if resolutions were passed by the United Nations (UN) or the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

During a press conference in Lahore, Bilawal addressed concerns raised in light of a Senate resolution seeking to postpone the polls due to extreme weather and security conditions. Bilawal emphasized that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had already issued a schedule for the elections on February 8, reaffirming that the polls would take place on the specified date.

Bilawal dismissed potential resolutions from the Senate, UN, or OIC, stating, “No matter if [they] get a resolution passed from the Senate, the UN or the OIC, elections will be staged on February 8.”

An independent lawmaker’s resolution in the Senate, advocating for a poll delay, received majority approval on Friday. However, another resolution supporting the original February 8 election date was subsequently introduced.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, in the new resolution, highlighted the constitutional requirement of holding elections. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court was petitioned to initiate contempt proceedings against senators involved in the resolution for polls delay.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb echoed Bilawal’s stance, affirming that elections would take place as scheduled. She emphasized that PML-N was the sole party opposing the resolution, stating, “Elections will be on February 8 [even if] other parties cry or shout.”

Bilawal, ruling out the possibility of a poll postponement, referred to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa’s assertion that the election date was “set in stone.” Expressing confidence in the CJP’s statement, Bilawal affirmed that the general elections would proceed as planned, allowing Pakistani citizens to exercise their voting rights.

Bilawal also discussed the PPP’s 10-point agenda for the elections, emphasizing their focus on addressing national issues rather than complaining about a level playing field. He expressed the party’s commitment to accepting the decision of the Pakistani people and highlighted his desire for the PPP to have the opportunity to address the country’s challenges. Additionally, Bilawal remarked on the difficulties faced by the PPP in previous elections and stated that the party’s manifesto serves as their agenda for the upcoming polls.