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Asim Qadeer Rana
Islamabad, Sept 21: A Thursday’s flicker by Election Commission of Pakistan, (ECP), to hold general elections in the last week of January, 2024 is a hope to a stressed nation facing its worst economic melt down, with dollar reserves crises already at home.
The announcement came at a time when two political parties Pakistan People’s Party, and Jamat E Islami – already in Supreme Court, asking for holding general elections within the constitutional limit of 90 days.
The ECP in its press release said that preliminary delimitations’ list of constituencies would be available on Sept 27. After hearing the objections and suggestions on the constituencies, it said, the final list would be released on Nov 30.
According to the ECP, a draft code of conduct has already been shared with the political parties to have their feedback.
The draft code of ECP states that political parties, candidates and election agents shall not propagate any opinion, or act in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan, or morality or public order, or the integrity or independence of the judiciary of Pakistan, or which defames or brings into ridicule any government institution including the judiciary and the armed forces.
Observers believe that announcement of the election week timeline will give investors the needed confidence, and a breather to Political parties already vying for democratic Pakistan, since last over one month.
Earlier, the ECP had said the elections were not possible this year as there was a need for fresh delimitation of constituencies on the basis of digital census, a statement that faced backlash from political parties.
A senior official at ECP speaking to PrideNews said: “We are clear to hold elections, and perform our constitutional duty, and let me assure the people of Pakistan that ECP believes in a democratic Pakistan, and that is only through fair elections.”
The official noted that printing of ballot papers, and complete operational action plan is already with the Election commissioner, and “we are focused to ensure holding general elections in Jan 2024.”
“We will announce a definite date as well,” he said, in response to question that why a definite date is not given.
The ECP official said, if Supreme Court did come in between this melee of election date what would be ECPs take: “If the top court pass some instructions we are bound to follow it but will give our reasons and law points for the date announced accordingly.”
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