Pakistan: General Elections to Be Held Without Delay
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials on Thursday announced that the body is fully prepared to hold polls within 60 days if legislative assemblies are dissolved after completing their term on August 12 or within 90 days if dissolved earlier.
Facts
- Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials on Thursday announced that the body is fully prepared to hold polls within 60 days if legislative assemblies are dissolved after completing their term on August 12 or within 90 days if dissolved earlier.1
- ECP Secretary Omer Hameed Khan also said that the election constituencies will be based on the 2017 census as new demarcations based on the 2023 digital census is currently "out of the question."2
- The announcement comes after local media reported that the federal government was considering approving and notifying the new census results, which could delay the general elections for three to four months.3
- Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee has already approved a PKR42.5B (roughly $149M) technical supplementary grant to conduct the upcoming elections.4
- Pakistan typically holds national and provincial elections simultaneously. However, despite a Supreme Court order in April, no elections were held in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.5
- Pakistan has been engulfed in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Imran Khan lost a no-confidence vote in April last year. Khan was briefly arrested in May, leading to violent unrest targeting government and army properties.5
Sources: 1DAWN.COM, 2The Express Tribune, 3ARY NEWS, 4Brecorder, and 5Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by News9Live. After striking an urgent bailout with the International Monetary Fund that relieved its economic woe, Pakistan needs a free and fair election to resolve its crisis and end the years-long political turmoil. Only a legitimate government can lead the nation through these troubled times, undertaking significant reforms and resisting the potential backlash from austerity measures.
- Narrative B, as provided by Arab News PK. A credible, elected government is undoubtedly necessary to salvage the country, but more is needed to bring political stability while the economy remains on the brink of collapse. Unless rival parties come together to cool the political temperature, it's unlikely that the country will be able to avoid sleepwalking into anarchy.
