Will hold elections by Feb 2024: Pakistan poll body

 ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given its assurance to political parties and the President that it would hold general elections in the country by February 2024.

The ECP assurance negates the mandated time of 90-days after dissolution of Parliament as per the country’s Constitution.

After the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) dissolved Parliament and its government on August 9, an interim-government under the premiership of Anwaarul Haq Kakar has taken over with a constitutional mandate of holding polls in the country within 90-days.

However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), responsible for seeing through the electoral process has stated that elections in the country cannot be possible before February 2024, adding that the new polls would be held after completion of the delimitation process under the new digital census.

The ECP has issued a schedule for the delimitation process, which would complete by December 14. ECP maintains that it would require at least two to three months more to prepare for the general elections and hold polls. The caretaker government also seems to be on the same page as ECP since it also brushed aside advice from the President to direct ECP for timely elections, stating that it was ECP’s decision to decide and announce on the poll’s date.

Experts say that while holding elections within 90 days is a mandate for the caretaker government and the ECP, delay in elections would not only require ordinance-based extension in tenure of the caretaker government but also would be viewed critically by the IMF and the western powers. IANS

Also Read:  Pakistan forms special court for Army Act & OSA related cases

Also Watch: