Demographic hurdles: Delimitation in Karachi impractical, says Sindh poll body

Special committee picks three national and eight provincial constituencies for minor changes.

ISLAMABAD:

The Sindh Election Commission expressed its inability on Monday to implement the Supreme Court order in the Karachi delimitation case, citing constitutional and demographic hurdles.

The provincial commission, however, did select three national and eight provincial constituencies in Karachi, which could be improved by tweaking their existing boundaries, among other minor changes.

A special committee formed by Sindh election commissioner examined existing constituencies in Karachi with the help of maps and consultation by representatives of the Population Census Organisation (PCO), a report submitted by the provincial commission said.

The report said suggestions by political parties active in Karachi were also welcomed by the committee. However, it went on to add that the three major political parties, which had representation in federal parliament and provincial assemblies, had not submitted any proposals in regard to alterations in the existing boundaries of administrative units.



The latest population figures and the reallocation of seats by parliament are essential requirements to carry out fresh delimitation of constituencies, under the law, the report noted.

However, even if parliament does not reallocate seats after a fresh census, existing constituencies would still be reconstituted as long as the census includes population data, which is necessary for the redrawing of existing boundaries.

The committee was unanimous in its decision to finalise the proposed changes after taking into consideration some legal/practical obstacles. But it noted that delimitation would be impracticable, unless at least one of the requirements under law were met.

The committee’s proposals were based on population figures published in 1988. The report noted that due to the non-availability of fresh figures it encountered numerous problems, which may cause a huge imbalance in the constituencies it attempts to redraw.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.