The ECP building in Islamabad. Photo: The News/File

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is determined to ensure timely completion of electoral processes for the upcoming general elections. The ECP announced that it would simultaneously work on delimiting constituencies and updating the voters' list to expedite preparations for the elections, as reported by The News on Saturday.

This resolve was expressed during a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), consisting of Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Zahid Hamid, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ataullah Tarar, and Asad Junejo. The discussions revolved around the electoral roadmap and were part of the ECP's initiative to address concerns regarding potential delays in the forthcoming general elections.

The Election Commission had previously announced the delimitation schedule following the approval of a new census by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). However, the timeline indicated that the fresh delimitation process might extend to nearly four months, potentially leading to a violation of the Constitution by not holding the elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.

The PML-N delegation acknowledged the ECP's efforts and the constitutional alignment of the delimitation schedule. They proposed that the renewal of electoral rolls should be conducted alongside the delimitation process to ensure a seamless and efficient completion of electoral preparations.

Furthermore, the PML-N recommended that media campaigns should be managed by the party rather than individual candidates. The delegation stressed the impartiality of ECP officers, district returning officers, and returning officers, while also advocating for measures to curb hate speech and control poll expenses.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja assured the PML-N delegation that the ECP would consult all political parties according to the law on the model code of conduct before finalizing these matters. He emphasized the ECP's commitment to transparency and fairness, promising that strict legal action would be taken against code of conduct violations. Raja also noted the strengthened monitoring wing to ensure compliance.

Following the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal conveyed that the PML-N's suggestions for controlling election expenses had been well-received by the ECP. He highlighted the importance of transparency in elections and the commission's efforts to prevent misuse, as was seen in the 2018 elections with the RTS system.

The ECP and PML-N agreed to the importance of curbing poll expenses and ensuring the transparency of the election process. The PML-N delegation suggested that the delimitation process should conclude 15 to 20 days before announcing the election schedule. A new voters' list can be compiled concurrently, aligning with constitutional requirements.

In response to a question, the former law minister clarified that the recent meeting between the US ambassador and ECP officials pertained to a separate matter and emphasized that elections are Pakistan's internal affair.

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