ISLAMABAD: Senator Raza Rabbani has issued a warning to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), urging them to avoid any delay in the scheduled general elections. According to the Constitution, these elections are expected to occur within 90 days following the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).
Rabbani stressed that a postponement of the general elections beyond the constitutional timeframe could result in severe repercussions. He highlighted that the responsibility for such consequences would lie with the Election Commission if it fails to promptly fulfill its constitutional duties.
Rabbani’s statement comes almost a week after the dissolution of the National Assembly. This dissolution occurred three days before its term was set to conclude. This move was made with the consensus of coalition partners within the PML-N-led government.
The senator noted that six days have passed since the dissolution of the National Assembly. He emphasized the ticking clock with regard to the constitutional requirement in Article 224 of the 1973 Constitution, which mandates elections to be held within 90 days.
He expressed surprise at the absence of a comprehensive statement from the ECP regarding the upcoming general elections. Rabbani demanded that the commission promptly provide a clear timeframe for constituency delimitation after the digital census.
He underscored that the Election Commission should not consider this as a routine matter. He commented that the ECP should delay elections as witnessed in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
Fears of delay in general polls
As per the Constitution, if an assembly completes its tenure, elections should be conducted within 60 days. However, in the case of premature dissolution, which is applicable in this situation, the time frame extends to 90 days.
Nonetheless, former opposition leader in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, mentioned that the general elections might take place in February. This is three months beyond the constitutionally permitted 90-day limit, which falls in November.
Statements made by former interior minister Rana Sanaullah and former defense minister Khawaja Asif, both leaders of the PML-N party, have further hinted at the possibility of elections being postponed beyond the 90-day window.
When questioned about the likelihood of elections occurring in 2023, Sanaullah firmly stated, “It is an absolutely straightforward answer — no.” He reiterated this sentiment in another program. He highlighted that while he couldn’t predict the future, there’s a constitutional argument for extending the 90-day period to 120 days.
Khawaja Asif, in an interview with CNN, acknowledged that elections were due in November. He admitted, “There is a possibility of a delay but not more than a couple of months on technical grounds.”
After the Council of Common Interests approved the 2023 census results on August 5, a senior ECP official highlighted that a fresh delimitation would be legally necessary, a procedure that would take a minimum of four months. This official emphasized that the ECP is obligated to perform this task according to the constitutional requirement. Further details will be determined once the official notification is received.
Another official in the report mentioned that the ECP would also need to update electoral rolls and undertake related measures. This indicates a potential postponement of the entire process until March or April of the subsequent year.
