Shillong, September 21: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially declared that the upcoming general elections in the country are set to occur in the final week of January next year. This decision comes following the ECP’s assessment of the progress of the delimitation process, aligned with the new census data, on Thursday.
As per IANS, preliminary delimitation details are due to be unveiled on September 27, with the final list of constituencies to be published on November 30 after considering objections and suggestions. The election schedule spans 54 days, culminating in the late January elections.
This announcement by the ECP puts to rest the uncertainty that loomed over the elections due to the need for new delimitation, as mandated by the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government’s approval of a new census. This move had raised concerns about potential delays.
Following the dissolution of national and provincial assemblies in August, the ECP faced a constitutional obligation to redefine boundaries before conducting elections, making it infeasible to hold them within the originally stipulated 90-day period.
Key political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have also urged the ECP to expedite the election process to address the prevailing uncertainty in the country.