ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will head a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) today to determine the fate of the 2023 census. There is disagreement among coalition partners on this matter. The crucial CCI meeting is scheduled for 12 pm. All chief ministers and federal cabinet members will attend the meeting.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has reportedly informed the federal government that it has completed all formalities for the census. It can now present the results for approval to the CCI.
If the CCI approves the census results, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) might postpone the elections by a couple of months as it will need additional time to conduct the delimitation process again. New census notification mandates ECP to hold elections based on the updated data.
The ruling coalition has agreed to dissolve the National Assembly prematurely on August 9, three days before its term ends. This decision allows the electoral body a 90-day window to conduct the polls.
PPP and MQM-P Remain divided
Meanwhile, the two main coalition partners of PML-N, namely Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), hold opposing views on the census issue.
The PPP has repeatedly stated that polls should be based on the 2017 census. PPP leaders firmly hold the view that they will not tolerate any delay in holding elections. While addressing the Senate, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman expressed that the census matter is controversial. Following the 2023 census could potentially lead to complications in the delimitation of constituencies. She emphasized that the stakeholders might use this issue to postpone the election. However, their stance is to hold elections on time and in accordance with the Constitution.
On the other hand, MQM-P has conveyed its concerns to the prime minister. MQM-P leaders assert that elections based on the previous census would not be acceptable.
Polls may be delayed by 4 months
Former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad stated that if the CCI approves the new census, elections will take place in 2024.
He pointed out that if the CCI recommends the gazette notification of the new digital census, the ECP is legally obligated, as per Article 51(5) of the Constitution, to conduct a fresh delimitation process.
