The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced its intention to shorten the timeframe for the delimitation of national and provincial assembly constituencies. This decision comes after meetings with political parties, including the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the Awami National Party (ANP).
Following the recent notification of the 2023 digital census, the ECP ruled out elections this year. However, according to Article 224 of the Constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, which occurred three days before the end of its constitutional term.
The ECP is required to delimit constituencies after every officially published census, as stated in Section 17(2) of the Elections Act. Last week, the ECP announced that the delimitation process was expected to be completed by December 14, which would exceed the constitutionally mandated deadline for general elections.
In addition to consulting with political parties, including the PPP, PTI, PML-N, JUI-F, JI, and MQM-P, the ECP has now assured the delegations that it intends to shorten the duration of the delimitation process. The electoral watchdog aims to ensure the timely conduct of elections after reducing the delimitation timeframe to an appropriate length.
The ANP expressed its concerns to the ECP regarding the need for timely elections within the constitutionally mandated 90-day period. The party emphasized the equitable distribution of seats among provinces as outlined in the Constitution, urging the ECP to avoid any actions that may be perceived as unjust.
The ECP has set a target to conclude delimitations by December 14, 2023, and is considering the possibility of shortening the timeline. The specific timetable for the polls will be revealed once this comprehensive process reaches its conclusion. The BAP and BNP also endorsed the ECP’s decision to carry out fresh delimitations, with the BNP raising concerns about the accuracy of the new census data in representing the population of Balochistan.
The ANP has been assured by the ECP that elections will not be delayed beyond February. Furthermore, if the delimitation exercise is completed ahead of schedule, elections could be held earlier. The assemblies’ early dissolution has raised concerns about potential delays in holding elections, but the ECP is committed to ensuring a timely and fair electoral process.
In summary, the ECP is working towards shortening the delimitation process duration and aims to announce the election schedule once this task is completed. The concerns and suggestions of political parties are being taken into consideration to uphold the principles of fairness and inclusivity in the electoral system.