Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has recently declined the Election Commission of Pakistan’s resolution to implement new constituency delimitation and has proclaimed its intent to challenge the decision of the Council of Common Interest in the Pakistan supreme court.
The party further asserted that if the National Assembly is dissolved prior to the completion of its designated term, the Constitution explicitly mandates the ECP to arrange elections within a span of 90 days.
According to sources, “The Election Commission’s schedule is a criminal attempt to prolong the caretaker government contrary to what is written in the Constitution.”
The party added that the electoral organizing authority, having previously violated a Supreme Court directive concerning elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is once again trying to “breach” the constitutional parameters.
The former ruling party stated, “In light of the decision of the Council of Common Interests, the formation of new constituencies cannot be used as a justification to escape election.”
As per sources, it was asserted that a “substantial irregularity” was committed during the CCI assembly when “illegal caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” participated in the meeting.
The party also alleged that due to the PTI’s rising popularity, people were deprived of the right to vote.
The party also alleged that the mounting popularity of PTI had led to the disenfranchisement of the populace from their voting rights.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan disclosed its intention to execute a renewed delimitation of constituencies.
The ECP’s declaration significantly makes it almost certain that the general elections in Pakistan may surpass the constitutionally stipulated timeframe of 90 days.
Back in July, the Council of Common Interests accorded approval to the outcomes of the 2023 digital census, obligating Pakistan’s electoral oversight watchdog to carry out fresh delimitation. According to reports, the fresh delimitation is estimated to take 4 months.
This development comes when the Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul Kakar’s 19-member cabinet, who were sworn in on Thursday following the dissolution of the National Assembly and the farewell of the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government on August 9.
