Three federal ministers have confirmed their fears that the general elections may be delayed in the wake of new census results. The concern over the delay in elections arose after the Council of Common Interests unanimously approved the results of the 2023 census.
The CCI’s August 5 decision raises the possibility that the government will delay elections this year, citing the ‘time’ required by the Election Commission of Pakistan for delimitation of constituencies.
Participating in the ‘Spotlight’ program of Aaj News, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar indicated that the general elections can be postponed till January 2024.
He said that the census was approved by consensus in the Council of Common Interests, all parties were represented in the CCI, and no political party opposed it. The decision is made by the majority, even if two members oppose it, It doesn’t matter.
He said that the talks of delay in the election are only political statements, there may be a difference of 35 to 45 days after 90 days in the election, but the election will not be delayed for more than 60 days.
He said this in response to a question raised by Senator Kamran Murtaza and Mohsin Dawar of JUI(F) from Balochistan regarding the reservations about the figures shown in the census.
He said that the general elections will be held before the Senate elections.
Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also expressed fear of a delay in general elections by one to two months.
In an interview with US media, Khawaja Asif said that elections will be held in Pakistan in November. Elections may be delayed by one to two months but not more than that.
The Defense Minister said that the National Assembly will be dissolved by the evening of August 9, after which elections are required within 90 days as per the Constitution. In certain circumstances, the Election Commission can delay by one to two months, but it cannot be delayed.
Elections will be held in the third week of February or the first week of March
On the other hand, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sana, participating in Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath’, said that if new constituencies are made, elections will be held in the third week of February or the first week of March.
He said that if 120 days of 90 have passed, then there is a constitutional argument. It is written in the constitution that there will not be two elections on one census. There were many objections to the census
