ISLAMABAD: According to The News on Monday, the Pakistani Election Commission (ECP) has prevented the country’s center from selling off Pakistan International Airline (PIA), the country’s flag carrier.
In accordance with Section 230 of the Elections Act, which outlines the responsibilities of a caretaker administration, the ECP took this move.
In a letter to Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal, ECP Secretary Dr. Asif Hussain requested access to all records pertaining to the PIA’s privatization.
The top electoral authority instructed the interim federal government to hold off on signing any agreements or taking any other action until the ECP has rendered a decision pursuant to Section 230.
Section 230, which addresses caretaker government activities, states that:(1) The duties of a caretaker government are as follows: (a) carry out its duties to handle the day-to-day operations of the government; (c) limit its activities to those that are routine, non-controversial, urgent, in the public interest, and reversible by the next government that is elected following the elections; and (d) refrain from making major policy decisions, with the exception of those that are urgent; (b) make any decisions or policies that could influence or preempt the exercise of authority by the next elected government.”
“Kindly refer your letter No.2/1-2024-PS (CS) dated January 27, 2024, on the above subject,” states a copy of the correspondence that is shared with The News. The Election Commission received the matter you raised in your letter, and after giving it a thorough examination in light of Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017 and clause 5(b) of the Privatization Commission Ordinance 2000, it directed that you submit all pertinent documents, including a comprehensive privatization program pertaining to the privatization of PIA that were prepared for cabinet approval, to the commission for review.
The ECP further mandated that until the commission makes a determination under Section 230, the caretaker administration should not sign any agreements or conduct any other actions. The letter requests that the Secretary of the Cabinet Division take the appropriate steps in accordance with the election body’s directives, namely submitting the relevant documents and the privatization plan pertaining to the PIA to this body for examination.
