CEC makes important statement over conduct of General Elections
Shares
The announcement made by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) highlights the reluctance exhibited by several provinces towards conducting general elections, according to a report by ARY News.
Following a consultative meeting with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released an official statement regarding the matter.
During this meeting, the TLP spokesperson conveyed to the ECP that the government had expanded the number of Union Councils (UCs) from 50 to 125 in the local government (LG) polls held in Islamabad. This alteration was made ostensibly to avoid the necessity of conducting the LG polls in the capital city.
In addition, the TLP put forward a request to the ECP, urging them to organize elections within a 90-day timeframe. In the event that the process of delimitation couldn't be completed within this stipulated period, the party suggested that the commission should consider augmenting its staffing resources.
The Chief Election Commissioner emphasized that the ECP is obligated to conduct LG polls in accordance with the provincial LG laws. He further stated that the commission would take on the responsibility of overseeing the financial aspects and expenditures related to the election campaigns.
Echoing support for the ECP's stance, the consultative committee of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) endorsed the decision to align general elections with the 2023 census.
As the delimitation process reaches its conclusion, the ECP disclosed its intention to unveil the election schedule promptly. It reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the constitutional framework while preparing for the upcoming elections.
