By The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has created a stir by announcing plans to redraw electoral boundaries based on the latest census data. This move has sparked a clash of interests among former coalition partners.
Shortly after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) called for elections to be held within 90 days – a timeline that can only be met if the delimitation process is postponed – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) surprisingly aligned with those supporting the idea of fresh delimitations.
Leaders of the PPP in Punjab have reached out to PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, urging them not to support any delay in elections, as it could negatively impact their chances of participating in the elections.
Following a coordination committee meeting on Saturday, MQM-P pledged to pursue this demand vigorously, even considering legal avenues. They emphasized that fresh delimitation was essential to ensure fair and transparent elections.
MQM-P stated, “The fresh delimitation is now a legal requirement after the new census results. It’s also crucial for free and fair elections. The MQM-P would take every possible constitutional and legal course to make it happen.” They hinted at taking legal action if their attempt to convince the Election Commission of Pakistan on August 29 to meet the 90-day constitutional deadline fails. A final strategy will be announced during the party’s next central executive committee meeting in Lahore in September.
Senator Waqar Mehdi reiterated the PPP’s stance, emphasizing that the party was keeping its options open should the ECP insist on delaying the polls beyond the constitutionally-mandated deadline. He stated, “In this case, the party would definitely consider legal options and also go to the public to seek their opinion. We are clear that the Constitution is supreme, which says that the general elections should be held within 90 days.”
However, the PPP’s key partners in the recently-dissolved coalition government appear to disagree with the emerging PPP strategy. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has urged the PPP to avoid politicizing constitutional matters and to support the ECP’s stance on fresh delimitation before the next general elections.
Conversely, PPP Punjab advised PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz against endorsing a delay in the polls, as this would not be in their best interests.
Additionally, the ECP has invited leaders from the Jamaat-i-Islami and MQM for separate meetings to discuss the electoral roadmap for the upcoming general elections. These meetings will cover topics such as constituency delimitation, updating electoral rolls, election conduct, and scheduling.
