CCI approves 2017 census results, decides to hold fresh nosecount by year-end

The Council of Common Interest (CCI) has approved the results of controversial census held in 2017 and decided to hold a new nosecount by the end of 2021, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar announced on Monday.

The CCI – a constitutional forum to discuss and decide matters between the federation and provinces – held its meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair. It was attended by all the four chief ministers and relevant federal ministers.

Addressing the press conference following the meeting, Umar said the census results have been approved with the consent of majority members except the Sindh government.

“By the end of this year probably in September or November, the process to hold new census will start and it will take around 18 months to complete,” he said. “Results of new census will be made public by 2023… so that delimitation process can take place before the general elections,” he added.

Umar said the census is a very crucial task as elections and delimitations are held on its basis. “General Elections 2023 will be held on the basis of new census and delimitations,” he maintained.

The minister said there was no other way other than to approve the results of 2017 census results, which was rejected by many political parties including PPP and MQM-Pakistan, who allege manipulation and undercounting in the process.

The minister said the government will take all measures to ensure transparency in the next census “as it is directly linked with the national security”.

“We share the same reservations over the results as others provinces and parties including MQM-Pakistan, but we cannot rectify the results of previous census,” he added.

“Census is not any easy task, it is a big and expansive exercise,” said Umar, adding that a budget of Rs23 billion will be allocated for the new census.

Also read: Sindh likely to get due water share after next CCI meeting

Minutes before his presser, Sindh government spokesperson Murataza Wahab in a tweet said that despite Sindh’s reservations, CCI approved the results.

“Despite reservations shown by CM Sindh, CCI has approved the Census Results. CM Sindh has dissented with the view of CCI and has submitted a dissenting note. Sindh government in pursuance of Article 154(7) of the Constitution will take the matter to Parliament,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Asad Umar, in today’s news conference, further said it was the constitutional right of Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah to oppose the CCI decision, but maintained that the last census was held with the coordination of PPP-led Sindh government.

The PTI minister said given the sensitivity of the matter the federal government wanted to evolve consensus over its decision of holding fresh census.