ISLAMABAD: The government has decided not to notify the latest census and hold the upcoming general elections on the 2017 population count, JEE News reported on Sunday.
This statement was given by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday night.
“The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has to complete its term. If this fresh census is not notified by then, the elections will be conducted on the basis of the previous census and delimitation.
He said, “The government has decided not to notify this [new census] and when the assemblies are dissolved after completing their terms, the Election Commission of Pakistan will conduct elections based on the previous census.” shall be bound.”
When asked if he meant the CCI would not notify the new census, Sanaullah said the government would not notify the census as it had “problems”.
In addition, various stakeholders also had reservations about it.
Pressing further on the concerns of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the government’s ally at the Center, over the 2017 census, Sanaullah said the party was dissatisfied with the new digital census.
“They don’t accept this new census.”
He further said that there are complaints regarding the new census in Balochistan.
Emphasizing consensus on the results of the census, he said it was important that all issues were resolved and any hasty decision on the census could lead to a “controversial situation” in the country.
He said building a consensus on the census so that all parties are confident “will take time”.
Also, on the consultation process for caretaker prime minister nominees, Sanaullah said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is working on the matter, adding that the process could be completed in a week or 10 days. He said that the Prime Minister will consult the opposition leader and allies on this.
