The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reassured the public that it is committed to expediting the delimitation of constituencies and will announce a schedule for the upcoming general elections. This announcement comes after concerns were raised that the polls could be delayed, extending the tenure of the interim government indefinitely.
In a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad, the electoral watchdog expressed its determination to streamline the delimitation process and promptly release the election schedule. These consultations with various political parties have been taking place as the ECP has ruled out holding elections this year. The 90-day deadline for conducting polls, as mandated by Article 224 of the Constitution, expires on November 9.
The ECP justifies the decision to delay the elections beyond November 9 by citing the need to wait for the results of the new digital 2023 census and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, which states that constituency delimitation should occur after each official census publication. The ECP aims to complete the fresh delimitation process by December 14, which is over a month beyond the constitutional deadline for holding general elections.
However, during the meeting with the PML-Q, the ECP expressed its intention to expedite the delimitation process as much as possible and promptly announce the election schedule.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, chaired the meeting, along with other senior ECP officials. The PML-Q delegation included Muhammad Tariq Hussain, Farukh Khan, Ghulam Mustafa Malik, Rizwan Sadiq, and Hafiz Aqeel Jalil.
The ECP, in a press release, assured that the delimitation and election processes would be conducted transparently and fairly. The PML-Q delegation also supported the ECP’s decision regarding delimitation, stating that it would be unfair if the exercise was not conducted. They also pledged their support to the CEC throughout the electoral process.
Additionally, the ECP had a consultative session with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), where the party demanded greater empowerment of union councils across the country to enhance the local government system. The TLP also raised concerns about the lack of media coverage compared to other political parties. They urged the ECP to improve poll monitoring, remove deceased individuals from the voter list, and increase staff for efficient delimitation. The TLP emphasized the need for improved security in the country as well.
The CEC assured the TLP that work on these demands was already underway, with the commission collaborating with law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order. The ECP also emphasized its commitment to consulting political parties on the electoral code of conduct.
As the ECP undertakes these initiatives and addresses the concerns of political parties, the aim is to ensure a transparent and efficient electoral process in Pakistan.