Election Committee of Pakistan (ECP) said on Thursday, which would take another four months to complete process of delimitation of constituencies, adding that elections can be held “fair, fair and just” in October.
The election observer’s statement was in reply to a letter from President Dr. Arif Alvi, who asked ECP to suggest dates for holding general elections in the country.
The President’s letter to the ECP stated that, in accordance with section 48(5)(A) and section 224(2) of Constitution, the President had to set a date no later than 90 days from the day of dissolution of National Assembly, for holding general elections.
President Alvi looked for dates for holding elections after he dissolved the National Assembly (NA) on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s advice after his dismissal of motion of no confidence against The Prime Minister is NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.
The Supreme Court is expected issue resolution on legitimacy of these measures tonight as an opportunity of early elections are coming.
In your reply copy of which the available with Dawn.comECP stated that it is “an independent [and] constitutional authority with sacred duty of organizing and holding elections in terms of Article 218(3) of Constitution and to take such measures and are necessary for ensure that elections are fair, fair, just and in conformity with law, and that corrupt practices are protected against”.
This also asked the President schedule meetings with ESP for further discussions on holding elections.
Delays in delimitation
ESP also explained in details about the reasons behind delays in delimitation is issue which attracted attention after dawn report with reference to ECP official how to say that general there were no elections possible within three months due to legal and operational restrictions.
He said fresh demarcation of constituencies, in particular in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where is the number of the number of seats was increased under the 26th Amendment, and the county and county electoral rolls were increased. in compliance was key challenges.
However, the election commission then clarified that she did not make any statement about the holding of elections, but did not say whether she was ready to vote. in three months.
Later ECP hosted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. government responsible for delay in delimitation.
In his reply President, the election observation organization emphasized that the distinction of districts were one of “fundamental steps”to the elections and it was held on the foundation of in final publication of census results.
preliminary results of 6th national census taken in 2017, were published on January 3, 2018, the ECP reported, adding that the delimitation of NA and provincial assemblies were held out on the foundation of these results “how one- temporary exemption granted by the amendment made under article 51(5) of Constitution for general elections 2018”.
final publication of official results of the census was a constitutional requirement for delimitation for in next elections, stressed in the YHP.
Accordingly, the commission made concerted effort and took up cause of final publication of official census results.”
The ECP said the letters were written to Prime Minister Imran and other relevant departments. in in this respect. He also mentioned that since the number of places in at AN reduced after the merger of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas with The command post necessarily carried out a new delimitation out in KP.
“But it wasn’t possible due to unpublished of official census results Pakistan Bureau of statistics,” the statement said.
The election observer also stated that he had started the process. of delimitation and approved deadlines for the same after, “finally, the Cathedral of Common Interests published 6th national census results”.
But government decided to have a fresh digital census, and “the commission was forced to stop the process of delimitation for which the schedule had already approved,” the statement said.
This added that subsequently letters were written to the ministry of parliamentary affairs in September 2021 and January of this year for revision and publication of fresh digital census results by the end of 2022 so that the delimitation can be completed “on time as digital the census was planned to be completed by March 2023.”
But I didn’t get the EPC. reply from the ministry of parliamentary affairs on The Commission stated that the matter, and therefore the delimitation, had been shelved.
The ECP stated that it is not the only authority to take with as regards behavior of elections and legally remained dependent on the federal and provincial government for “required Feedback”.
“When of any delay on part of Any government to perform their duties and assist the commission, delay in spend of delimitation cannot be imposed on the commission by any stretch of imagination”, – said the election commission.
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