Suri welcomes court decision on Punjab elections, calls for fair census in Balochistan

QUETTA (6 AM Report): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Senior Vice President, Qasim Khan Suri, welcomed the court’s decision to hold elections in Punjab and expressed his views during a press conference held at the party’s provincial secretariat, along with PTI Balochistan President, Dr. Muneer Baloch, on Wednesday.
Suri said that the population of Balochistan has increased by 47% in the census, while the population of Quetta has been reduced by 17% in the census, despite the fact that 7 lakh children in the city have been vaccinated against polio. He further added that it is a wrong move to make the population there 17 lakh, and requested the government and statistics department to remove the reservations and fears found in the political parties regarding the census in Balochistan. Suri emphasized that the population can be determined correctly only through a clean and transparent census, and requested an extension of one month to conduct the census, so that resources and funds can be allocated appropriately for the development of the provinces.
Suri also highlighted the issue of the government’s attempt to avoid holding elections on the pretext of various reasons, including security concerns, despite the Supreme Court’s order to hold elections in Punjab.
He stated that the government should create a favorable environment for dialogue and consultation, as applying pressure without a conducive environment will not yield any positive results. Suri further criticized the London Plan, saying that it is sabotaging the consultation process, and the arrest of PTI leaders is ongoing. He stressed that political parties must sit together and consult to resolve issues, as ordered by the Supreme Court.