The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), after impeding the restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has now urged the government to abstain from taking any further actions, including signing agreements, regarding the privatization of PIA or its entities until formal clearance is granted.
In a letter addressed to the cabinet secretary, just days before the general elections, the ECP invoked Article 230 of the Constitution, delineating the roles and limitations of the caretaker government. The ECP has requested all relevant cabinet documentation, emphasizing that the caretaker government should refrain from proceeding with any steps, including agreement signings, until a decision is made by the Commission under Section 230 of the constitution.
The government has been directed by the ECP to furnish all pertinent documents prepared for the Cabinet’s approval, encompassing a comprehensive privatization program related to PIA. This is mandated under Clause 5(b) of the Privatization Commission Ordinance, 2000, and Section 230 of the Constitution.