KARACHI: Former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said that the Pakistan People’s Party’s objection to the delay in the elections is valid, but demarcation after the notification of the census is a constitutional requirement.
Former interior minister said that when the People’s Party endorsed the census in the Council of Common Interests (CCI), it already knew that the elections I will be late. CCI decided to notify the census with consensus of all stakeholders including PPP. The PMLN leader said that all the parties had agreed on the point that only one election (2018) would be held based on the 2017 census and now it was a constitutional obligation to hold elections based on the new census. If the election is held on the basis of the old census, it will be unconstitutional, the matter will be challenged in court and will not stand.
Constituencies are redrawn after the census notification, Rana Sana asked if the People’s Party was not aware of Clause 5 of Article 51. “I wanted the elections to be held in 60 days instead of 90 days. I know the position of PMLN in Punjab. I believe the elections will be held in February 2024,” Rana said. “Why won’t the ECP announce the election schedule after the completion of delimitation by December 14?” he said after the new census. Delimitation of prisoners is a constitutional requirement, there is no other option.Furthermore, holding elections within 90 days is also a constitutional requirement but there is room for it.
