Following its recent intervention in obstructing the restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has urged the caretaker government to suspend the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
In a letter addressed to the cabinet secretary just days before the upcoming general election, the ECP has instructed the caretaker government to refrain from progressing with any actions related to PIA’s privatization, including the signing of agreements, until the Commission makes a decision as per Section 230 of the Constitution.
The ECP has requested the government to furnish all pertinent documents prepared for Cabinet approval, including a comprehensive privatization plan for PIA, as mandated by Clause 5(b) of the Privatisation Commission Ordinance, 2000, and Section 230 of the Constitution.
READ ALSO — Pakistan Observes Kashmir Day, Reaffirming Rights of Kashmiris
Last week, the ECP had communicated to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, advising against major reforms within the FBR and recommending that such initiatives be deferred for consideration by the newly elected government following the General Elections 2024.
In a letter dated January 30th, the ECP emphasized its responsibility to oversee elections under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, asserting its duty to highlight actions that the caretaker government should abstain from, in accordance with Section 230 of the Act.
The ECP reiterated that the proposed restructuring of the FBR constitutes a significant policy decision within the purview of an elected government’s prerogative.