Elections should not be delayed due to census: Murad Ali Shah
Election Commission says consultative meetings with PTI, JUI-F held on positive note
PML-N tells ECP all parties agreed on holding polls on new census.
Karachi _Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman on Friday stressed the need for holding the general elections within 90 days.
Addressing a press conference at the Bilawal House, Ms Rehman said: “The polls in the country should be held within 90 days. The PPP delegation will take the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on board in this regard.”
“The elections should not be delayed if there will be no increase in seats following the new census,” Ms Rehman maintained.
Ms Rehman briefed the media about the matters discussed in the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting. She said matters in line with the power, gas, and flash floods were underscored in the meeting.
“The party’s CEC meeting, which is still going on, also highlighted the economic woes of the country,” Ms Rehman added.
Earlier today, the CEC meeting convened to deliberate on the prevailing political and economic dynamics of the nation.
During the meeting, the participating members offered valuable insights and recommendations concerning the upcoming general elections.
Former Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah said on Friday that it was up to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the general elections on time.
Expressing his thoughts, Mr Shah said, “The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) wants elections in the country within 90 days”. “The general elections should not be delayed due to the census,” he maintained.
The meeting provided a platform for a comprehensive exchange of views on critical matters affecting the nation. Well informed sources indicate that the attendees put forth various suggestions regarding the general elections, indicative of the party’s commitment to democratic processes.
Notably, a consensus emerged among some members to advocate for conducting elections within the span of 90 days. Esteemed figures like Amjad Advocate, Mohammad Ali Bacha, and Chingiz Jamali voiced this viewpoint, aiming to ensure that electoral processes transpire under the most favorable circumstances.
Addressing the legal aspects, Aitzaz Hasan offered well-founded arguments regarding the feasibility of organizing elections within the stipulated 90-day timeframe, underscoring the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions.
Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood’s recommendation of a public communication campaign garnered attention during the meeting. Additionally, the proposal to visit flood-stricken regions in Punjab resonated with the members, aligning with the party’s commitment to addressing the welfare of the populace.
While,
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.
Earlier,
ECP spokesperson said on Thursday that the first round of pre-election consultations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) was held on a positive note,
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has begun consultations with the major political parties ahead of the general elections to finalise the electoral roadmap.
The first round of pre-election consultations was chaired by the chief election commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja today. The consultative meetings were also attended by the ECP secretary and other senior officers.
A PTI delegation comprising Babar Awan, Ali Zafar, Umair Niazi and Ali Muhammad Khan held consultations with the ECP high-ups.
The PTI delegation said that there is no need to conduct new delimitations. The PTI leaders demanded to ensure the immediate release of arrested leaders and workers besides granting permission to hold political rallies.
The PTI leaders urged the commission to provide a level playing field to the political parties.
The ECP spokesperson said that the PTI delegation emphasised on ensuring the organisation of general polls in 90 days.
The spokesperson added that the consultative meetings are being organised to receive feedback from the political parties. It said that the meetings were held in a good atmosphere.
The JUI-F delegation comprising Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidery, Jalaluddin and others also visited the ECP office to hold the consultations.
The JUI-F leaders recommended completing new delimitations after the gazette publication of the 2023 census results. They also urged to ensure the accuracy of voter records and polling stations in accordance with the new census data.
The JUI-F also demanded to ensure the deputation of impartial returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) in the upcoming general elections.
The ECP spokesperson said that efforts are being made to organise polls at the earliest and provide a level playing field to all political parties besides ensuring transparency. It added that the consultation process with the political parties will be continued.
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