ECP directs delimitation committees to complete tasks by Sept 26

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday instructed the delimitation committees to complete their tasks by September 26, without exception, with the aim of publishing the preliminary constituencies on September 27.

The ECP’s spokesperson said in a statement that the commission conducted a review of the constituency committees’ progress during a meeting.

It was stressed that the committees must complete their tasks by September 26, without any further delays.

The commission has taken steps to expedite the process for early general elections by adjusting the duration of constituencies.

According to the ECP, constituency announcements would now take place on November 30, with the intention of enabling early elections. Initially, the election commission had set the constituency delimitation period until December 14.

Related: PM Kakar says its ECP’s prerogative to announce election date

A few days ago, Kanwar Dilshad, former chief secretary of the election commission said that the ECP will release election schedule by November.

He said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has currently been engaged in fresh delimitation exercise that could be concluded by November 20.

“The constitution says the election should be held within 90 days after dissolution of assemblies,” former ECP official said. “A turmoil being created referring the 90 days’ condition repeatedly,” he added.

Commenting on the President’s role, Dilshad said that he could only give his suggestion to the election commission.

Kanwar Dilshad earlier said he did not see the next general elections to be held before February 15, 2024, after the Council of Common Interest (CCI) approval of the Digital Census 2023.

Talking to ARY News, the former ECP secretary pointed out that a fresh delimitation exercise, which takes around four to six months, would make it impossible to conduct the general polls due before October 12 this year.

He said that the ECP is legally bound to hold a fresh delimitation exercise, noting that the next elections are likely to be delayed till February 2024.

In response to a question, Dilshad said that increasing the national and provincial assemblies’ seats was not possible without a two-thirds majority.

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