ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not reached a decision regarding the date of the general elections and the timeline for conducting the delimitations of constituencies for the National Assembly (NA) and the four provincial legislatures.
A senior official said that deliberations on two crucial decisions, which carry both constitutional and legal complexities, would continue on Thursday. The commission, being a constitutional entity, is proceeding with caution despite various speculations and opinions. The process of delimitations, a significant nationwide endeavor, is undergoing careful consideration with respect to all legal and constitutional aspects.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) had already handed over the digital census results to the electoral body on Tuesday. This move had fueled speculation that the ECP meeting on Wednesday would potentially announce the general election date and a new timeline for constituency delimitations.
The Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the 2023 digital census results on August 5, followed by an official notification two days later. This raised the possibility of a delay in the general elections by at least five to six months.
According to Article 224 of the Constitution, “When the National Assembly or a Provincial Assembly is dissolved, a general election to the Assembly shall be held within a period of ninety days after the dissolution…”
Following the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 10, subsequent dissolutions of the Sindh and Balochistan provincial assemblies took place. Additionally, after each census, the delimitation of constituencies for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies is required, a process that demands a minimum of four months.
Although the Senate passed a resolution urging the general elections to be held within 90 days, some ministers from the previous PDM government hinted at the potential for election delays.
