PTI rejects ECP decision on delimitation, set to challenge CCI decision in Supreme Court

Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to carry out new delimitation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday rejected the idea and announced it would challenge the Council of Common Interest’s (CCI) decision to notify the new census in the Supreme Court.

In a statement, the party spokesperson alleged that the schedule for the delimitation issued by the ECP was “malicious and a clear deviation from the Constitution”.

The party added that if the National Assembly is dissolved before the completion of its tenure the Constitution clearly states that the ECP is bound to hold polls within 90 days.

“The Election Commission’s schedule is a criminal attempt to prolong the caretaker government contrary to what is written in the Constitution,” the party spokesperson said. It added that the poll organising authority after violating the Supreme Court’s order on elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is once again trying to “violate the Constitution”.

“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,” the former ruling party further said.

A “major irregularity”, it said, was committed in the CCI meeting when “illegal caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” attended the meeting.

The party also alleged that due to the PTI’s rising popularity, people were deprived of the right to vote.