MQM wants polls after new delimitation

Party to provide ECP with a roadmap for finalising election schedule, delimitation on urgent basis

KARACHI:

 

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) wants “immediate elections” but also believes that the Constitution and the law do not allow holding elections without fresh delimitation, once a new population census has been notified.

“The Constitution and the law do not permit elections without new voter lists [once results of a new census are published],” said MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while addressing a press conference on Sunday.

The previous coalition government had notified the results of the 7th Population and Housing Census—held digitally—on August 7 days before the end of its term. The results were notified after their approval from the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

Read MQM-P reiterates demand for ‘correct headcount’

As former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolved the National Assembly a few days shy of completion of its five-year term, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is bound to hold elections within 90 days.

However, the polls supervisor on August 18 made it clear that it could not hold the general elections in the stipulated limit of three months as under Section 17(2) of the Elections Act, 2017, it was supposed to delimit constituencies in view of the new population census, amid protest by some political parties.

The PPP, which has ruled Sindh for the last 15 years and which was part of the previous federal government, on August 25 voiced its reservations about likely delay in the polls, asserting that such postponements would be unacceptable.

Apparently referring to the PPP, the MQM-P leader said that those who are advocating for elections on the old constituency boundaries after the new census should know that this is unconstitutional.
“The way our vote was stolen in the 2018 elections was unprecedented. The city [Karachi] needs elections as soon as possible—elections that are fair, transparent, and unbiased,” Dr Siddiqui added.

He added that the ECP had earlier stated that it could complete the new delimitation process in 90 days, implying that holding new elections after fresh delimitation did not necessarily mean a delay in polls.
The ECP has initiated a series of consultations with political parties regarding the upcoming general elections and a delegation from the MQM-P, led by Dr Farooq Sattar, will meet with the ECP officials on Monday (today) at 11am.

According to sources, the MQM-P, which was part of both the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition governments, is going to provide the ECP with "a comprehensive roadmap" for finalising the election schedule and delimitation process on an urgent basis.

During the meeting, discussions will be held on various matters, including delimitation of constituencies, preparation of electoral lists, the code of conduct for general elections, and the electoral schedule, among other issues.

Read more Polls on old census unacceptable: MQM-P

The MQM will present its suggestions regarding the new constituency delimitations, including its reservations about the old constituency boundaries, along with supporting evidence. It will also present its proposals to ensure transparent and peaceful elections throughout the country.

The party asserts that before the elections, it will emphasise fair constituency delimitations and the preparation of voter lists. Led by Dr Farooq Sattar, the delegation will include Jawed Hanif, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Sadiq Iftikhar, and Farhan Chishti.