The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended its influence beyond the FBR restructuring, urging the government to suspend any further actions, including agreement signings, related to the privatisation of PIA or its entities until formal clearance is obtained.
In correspondence with the cabinet secretary, the ECP invoked Article 230 of the Constitution, outlining the caretaker government’s roles and limitations, and requested all relevant cabinet documentation.
Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal had previously sought clearance on the “privatisation of government entities (including PIA)” by the caretaker government.
The ECP, citing Section 230 of the Constitution, directed the government to provide comprehensive privatisation program documentation related to PIA, as required by the Privatisation Commission Ordinance, 2000.
This move follows the ECP’s earlier intervention in blocking the FBR overhaul, despite prior cabinet and Special Investment Facilitation Council approval.
The ECP, in a letter dated January 30, had advised the caretaker prime minister to leave the FBR restructuring for the incoming elected government, emphasizing the constitutional framework and the caretaker government’s defined functions.
While acknowledging the importance of improving state-owned institutions, the ECP stressed that major reforms, such as the FBR overhaul, fall under the jurisdiction of an elected government, as outlined in Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017.
The ECP recommended deferring FBR reforms for consideration by the newly elected government after the General Elections 2024.
Now, the cabinet division is tasked with providing relevant documentation on PIA privatisation to the ECP, as the commission focuses on its primary responsibility of organizing general elections nationwide.
The government’s day-to-day matters, akin to the FBR restructuring, might face limited attention during this critical election period.
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