In a significant development, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has unanimously approved the results of the 2023 digital census, as announced by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday. This approval indicates that a delay in the upcoming general elections, scheduled for later this year, is highly likely.
According to the government’s plan, the assemblies are set to be dissolved on August 9, triggering the countdown for the elections to be held within 90 days after the end of the assemblies’ tenure. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated during an interview earlier this week that the elections would be conducted based on the latest census data. This has raised concerns as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already expressed its inability to organize the general polls within the specified timeframe due to the need to conduct a fresh delimitation of constituencies based on the new population count.
The issue has also drawn opposition from some of the government’s allies in the Centre, namely the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Both parties have expressed reservations about the accuracy and implications of the new census data. In fact, just yesterday, PPP senators in the upper house of Parliament labeled the decision to hold elections based on the new census as a tactic to delay the polls.
Despite these reservations, the PMO statement revealed that the chief ministers of all four provinces and representatives from all political parties reached a consensus on the new census results during the CCI’s 50th meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The approval of the census results by the CCI holds significant implications for the upcoming general elections. It remains to be seen how the Election Commission will respond to the challenge of conducting a fresh delimitation process within the constrained timeframe. Additionally, the stance of opposition parties on the matter may also impact the electoral process and its timelines.
As the situation unfolds, political dynamics in Pakistan are likely to experience further shifts and adjustments. The smooth and timely conduct of the upcoming elections is crucial for the country’s democratic process, and the decisions made in the aftermath of the CCI’s approval will shape the future political landscape.
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