ECP assures to give early date of holding elections in the country: Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (SABAH): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President and former federal minister climate change Senator Sherry Rehman on Tuesday said that her party has put forward all the reservations surrounding the general elections in a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Sherry Rehman said the PPP has repeatedly expressed reservations regarding the polls’ date, saying that they should be held within the 90-day period as per the Constitution; however, ECP has assured to give early date of holding elections in the country.

On August 17, the electoral body announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) earlier this month.

The ECP schedule showed that fresh delimitation will take nearly four months, meaning the general elections in the country cannot be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.

“We had a meeting with the ECP in a pleasant environment during which we put all our reservations,” said Sherry Rehman in a press conference.

She said that it is the electoral body’s responsibility to conduct the elections, however, the Constitution says the polls should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

PPP Secretary General and former chairman senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that the Constitution says elections should be conducted within the given time period, adding that it is very important to give a date for elections. “ECP heard our stance and will inform us about the polls after a meeting. We will finalise our next action plan in the CEC meeting in Lahore,” he added.

The other members of the PPP delegation include former federal minister for commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, former chief minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Senator Taj Haider and former SAPM Faisal Karim Kundi.

Meanwhile, the ECP is in continuous consultations with the political parties.

The electoral body has invited Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) to hold discussions tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2: 00 PM while an Awami National Party (ANP) delegation comprising Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Zahid Khan, Wakil Khushdil and Wakil Rahim will hold a meeting at 11: 00 AM.