CEC unveils tentative date for upcoming General Elections
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During a consultative session between the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Chief Election Commissioner, discussions revolved around the timing of the upcoming general elections. It was conveyed by the Chief Election Commissioner that there was a possibility of holding the elections by mid-February, with the potential for an even earlier date if the constituency delimitation process concluded ahead of schedule.
In the course of outlining the electoral roadmap, the ANP expressed its concerns about the feasibility of conducting the elections within the standard 90-day period. They urged for clarity on the election date and schedule if the 90-day timeframe was not workable.
Following a meeting between the ANP delegation and the Election Commission, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, a prominent ANP leader, communicated the Commission's stance. The Election Commission confirmed its preparedness to facilitate elections by mid-February and demonstrated its dedication to expediting the constituency delimitation process, which could potentially lead to an expedited election timeline.
Both Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Zahid Khan, representing the ANP leadership, emphasized that they had effectively conveyed the party's perspective. They underlined the constitutional obligation to hold elections within 90 days, while also drawing attention to their exclusion from the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting. In response, the Election Commission pointed out that the approval of the census would inevitably necessitate the creation of new constituencies.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain further highlighted a significant factor that contributed to the delay in fresh elections – the premature dissolution of the assembly shortly before its scheduled completion. He stressed that the assembly's dissolution just a few days before the tenure's end resulted in a one-month postponement of the election timeline.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain also revealed that the Election Commission had provided assurances regarding their preparedness for the mid-February elections. He noted that the Commission had committed to expediting the process of constituency delimitation, thereby increasing the likelihood of holding elections earlier than initially anticipated
