In consultation meeting, MQM-P backs ECP on holding elections post-delimitation

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Monday backed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on holding polls after the delimitation of constituencies while the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) asked the electoral body that it should have issued a polls schedule along with delimitation schedule to remove ambiguity.

Both parties made their stance clear when their delegations called on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja as part of their consultative process, as per the ECP’s official statement issued after the meetings.

The MQM-P delegation led by the party’s Senior Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar informed the ECP that its decision to carry out the delimitations was “correct”, adding that they had reservations about the 2017 census.

The party also informed the ECP that an audit of the new census was carried out during the Imran Khan-led government on MQM-P’s demand. The Dr Sattar-led delegation informed the ECP that the PTI agreed to hold new polls based on a fresh census, adding that work on the process was launched after the new census was started.

“Karachi is a big city and people from different cities migrate to it and Karachi’s population has increased substantially,” said the MQM-P, and emphasised that delimitation should be based on the new census.

“Proper representation of the people should be ensured in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies,” the MQM-P said and also called for the renewal of electoral rolls.

On the other hand, the JI told the electoral authority that it should have started the consultation process with political parties earlier. It added that the elections have to be held in 90 days if the assemblies are dissolved prematurely.

However, it said that since the ECP has started the delimitation process it would have been better if the election schedule had been issued along with it to “remove ambiguity”.

“The Election Commission should fulfil its responsibilities according to the Constitution and law,” the JI said, adding that the National and provincial assemblies should not have been dissolved prematurely.

The party also emphasised that the Pakistani people should not be deprived of public representation.

On the other hand, CEC Raja told both parties that the ECP will complete the work on delimitation “as soon as possible” and hold polls immediately after the process is completed. “The Election Commission will also complete the delimitation of constituencies and renewal of electoral rolls simultaneously.”

On the election code of conduct, the ECP informed them that all political parties would be consulted again.

Earlier this week, sources had told Geo News that the ECP had decided to consult all major political parties, including the PTI, regarding the date of general elections that are expected early next year.

As per the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the ECP had decided to consult the political parties separately on developing an election roadmap as well as issues related to delimitation and voter lists.

The ECP has already held consultations with the PML-N, PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

In those meetings, the JUI-F and PML-N had backed the ECP to hold general elections after the delimitation while the PTI had urged the electoral watchdog to drop the process and conduct polls within 90 days.