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| ECP's decision on election schedule likely next week |
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to finalize the schedule for the upcoming general elections and delimitations of constituencies by next week, following a meeting of the electoral body this week, as reported by The News.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar Raja, will address significant matters in preparation for the impending polls and the revision of constituency boundaries.
Highly-placed sources within the ECP have indicated that the commission has been closely monitoring the developments in a low-key manner.
The appointment of a caretaker prime minister and the initiation of the process to establish a caretaker administration in Sindh and Balochistan have created an urgent need for the commission to take decisive action to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
The commission will need to determine the date for the fresh elections or the commencement of constituency delimitations based on the recently concluded digital census.
All actions taken by the commission will adhere to the constitutional framework.
In its meeting last week with a full quorum, the ECP chose to maintain silence on sensitive topics.
Sources have revealed that the commission has also sought legal guidance on these matters from its relevant division. The subsequent steps will be taken based on the report submitted by this division, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, political observers are not optimistic about holding the elections within the mandated 90-day timeframe, and the entire process could extend over eight months.
The commission intends to involve all political parties and relevant stakeholders in its decision-making process once the final course of action is determined, the sources have added.
