Ahsan Iqbal uncertain about timely conduct of Senate elections

The Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday expressed uncertainty regarding the timely conduct of Senate elections which are due in March, citing the prevailing uncertain political situation in the country.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the country was passing through a state of uncertainty and no one can predict whether the Senate elections would be held on time or not.

“Though we are hopeful that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will complete its constitutional term, the overall situation of the country remains a matter of concern,” he said.

Resignations and sit-ins are against the interest of the country in the prevailing scenario, he maintained.

He stressed the need to “realise the threats being faced by the country on the foreign front” and asked the citizens to maintain peace, stability, and unity to tackle the foreign threats. “Otherwise, we will be doing a disservice to ourselves,” he said.

Citing the possibility of fresh sit-ins in the capital and a no-confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, Iqbal said the current developments in the political arena are likely to have a negative impact on the country’s stance against foreign threats.

Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has said that the Senate elections might get postponed if the political disruption continues to grow in Balochistan following the recent instability.

He alleged that the trio of Asif Zardari, Imran Khan, and Tahirul Qadri wants to derail the incumbent government before March.

Haideri said he wasn’t aware that who was behind the sudden disruption in the political scenario of Balochistan, however, he clarified that “ Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam –Fazal-ur- Rehman (JUI-F) had nothing to do with it”.