All parties agreed to hold elections on new census data: ECP

PML-N tells ECP all parties agreed on holding polls on new census.

Islamabad_The election commission issued a declaration after holding consultations with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) delegation today.

It stated that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had unanimously approved the 2023 census statistics and all political parties agreed to hold general polls on the basis of new census data,

The commission said that the delimitation schedule was announced in accordance with the Constitution and law.

During the consultative meeting, the PML-N delegation suggested completing the revision of the electoral list with the delimitation process. The PML-N leaders also recommended the ECP to not make any delay in the general polls.

The political party suggested the commission for holding consultations again on the election code of conduct. They asked the ECP to impose a ban on hate speeches and allow the candidates to only issue posters and stickers.

The PML-N suggested that the election campaign should be run by the political parties, whereas, the candidates should not be allowed to run their own media campaign.

“All political parties agreed that 2023 elections should be held as per the new census. The delimitation schedule issued by the Election Commission is in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” the PML-N informed the ECP as per the watchdog.

However, the electoral authority said that the PML-N asked the watchdog to carry out the process of renewal of electoral rolls simultaneously with the delimitation.

“Delimitation of constituencies and renewal of electoral rolls should be completed in a single phase, there should be no delay in holding the elections,” the PML-N was quoted.

The political party further suggested that the ECP should assign duties to its officers to implement the election code besides completing the delimitation and electoral list revision in a single phase.

The ECP announced that it will finalise the election code of conduct after consulting the political parties. The commission stated that general elections will be transparent and impartial in which all political parties will be given equal opportunities.

It added that strict legal action will be ensured over the code violations besides improving the election monitoring system.