ISLAMABAD - Clandestine struggle by two key political players the ruling PPP and opposition party PML-N to drive maximum pre-poll mileage and their clash of interest on caretaker setup could prompt delay in general elections, sources said on Sunday.
Background interviews and discussions with leaders of the key political stakeholders in the general elections suggest that despite noticeable commitment to general elections as well as candidate constitutional procedure, there seems some hiccups that both the parties are still far away from core understanding about dissolution of assemblies and choosing the caretakers.
Despite the paucity of time, both the PPP and PML-N have yet to start formal process of consultations as required in the constitution and instead have started taking hard positions because of clash of political interest between the two players.
“Given the fact that both the parties have to face each other in the election arena. Therefore, they are still reluctant to give in their respective positions on certain pre-poll issues”, sources told The Nation requesting not to be named.
Similarly, other smaller parties that do have their due stake in the pre-poll process and in the elections are also shying away to commit any thing unless they could secure some interest in the caretaker governments.
Other factors which are giving rise to the notions that elections could be delayed are the sequenced statements made by the Prime Minister, Law Minister and PPP Senator Mian Razza Rabbani have added fuel to the concerns that there was some thing that made foundation of these statements.
Conspiracy theorists believed that there were two key factors worth taking in to account about the impartial and free and fair elections that would lead to first democratic transition in the country are implementation of Article 62 and 63 in letter and sprit and security situation in the country.
“These two factors are still making the election process vulnerable, a source said, adding that implementation of Article 62 and 63 would mean major screening effort that haunts the politicians across the board.
So is the security situation that could pose serious threat to the election process in the country. “ Who knows what will happen before or during the elections. This is major threat and there seems to be no government effort to address the issue.
The sources were of the views that unless the two key players agree on a roadmap with total commitment to elections, speculations about delay would not stop.