Last Updated: November 02, 2023, 14:33 IST
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had earlier ruled out polls this year citing the need for fresh delimitation of constituencies. (Reuters File Photo)
The Pak electoral body’s counsel, said the process of drawing constituencies would be completed by Jan 29 paving the way for polls
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday told the country’s Supreme Court that the much-awaited general election will be held on February 11 next year. This follows the dispute regarding the timing of the upcoming polls — on whether the polls should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.
The electoral body’s counsel, Sajeel Swati, today disclosed that the process of drawing constituencies would be completed by January 29, paving the way for the elections, the Dawn newspaper reported. This revelation was made during a hearing where the Supreme Court took up petitions submitted by various parties, including the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Munir Ahmad, and Ibad-ur-Rehman.
The court had previously issued notices to both the ECP and the federal government to provide their input on the timeline for the elections within 90 days. The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, stressed that everyone desires elections.
During the hearing, the PTI’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, argued that elections should be held within the 90-day period. However, CJP Isa noted that this request had become ineffective. Zafar contended that the delay in holding elections was a violation of fundamental rights.
The PTI-chosen Pakistan President had initially proposed elections be held by November 6, but the Ministry of Law and Justice clarified that the authority to announce the election date rests with the ECP, not the President. The country’s apex court is now faced with the task of resolving this dispute, weighing the role of the President and the ECP in setting the election date.
Meanwhile, the ECP had cited the need for fresh delimitation of constituencies as the reason for delaying the elections. This decision has garnered mixed reactions from political parties, with some expressing concerns about weather conditions, while others call for immediate election dates and a level playing field.
