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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to announce the date for the next general elections in the last week of January 2024.
The election commission has prepared a proposed schedule for the upcoming elections and hold the polls than earlier anticipated. According to reports, the general election is expected to be held on 28th January, 2024.
The ECP has recommended the dates from January 27 to 30 for the polling day. After the approval of the election body, the schedule of general elections will be released.
The election commission was earlier expected to hold the election in mid-February next year. It had also suggested holding the polls on February 11 or February 25.
Earlier, the ECP announced to reduce the timeframe of the delimitation of constituencies and will complete the process by November 30.
In a statement, the electoral body said the purpose of reducing the timeframe of delimitation is to hold elections as soon as possible so the polls can be delayed by several months.
“The polls schedule will be announced keeping this date in mind,” it stated, adding that the decision was taken after feedback from political parties.
The ECP had earlier said the process of fresh delimitation is expected to be completed by December 14. It had hinted at holding elections in February next year after completing the process.
The electoral body has also said it would carry out work on updating the electoral rolls side by side to ensure the work is done in the minimum possible time.
It must be mentioned that the 90-day limit for holding elections as mandated under Article 224 of the Constitution ends on November 9.
The ECP has been holding consultations with various parties on the roadmap for the next general elections. The ECP has given reassurances that general elections would be held by mid-February at any cost, or earlier if the delimitation of constituencies is completed earlier.
It has also held meetings with officials from different provinces on the law and order situation and administrative preparations for the elections.
The ECP also held consultations with all the major political parties of the country for the upcoming elections. The election commission met delegations of the PML-N, PTI, PPP, MQM, JUI-F, and Jamaat-e-Islami for consultation on the general elections.
The PPP has demanded holding the general elections in the country within 90 days as required by the constitution, urging that pushing the country towards a constitutional and political crisis should be avoided through unjustified delay in the election.
