The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has revealed that it will convene a meeting with political parties next month to deliberate on the code of conduct for the forthcoming general elections, which the ECP anticipates holding in January. This timeline extends beyond the constitutionally mandated cutoff date of November 7.
The ECP made the announcement through an official statement, indicating that the meeting is organized in accordance with Section 233 of the Elections Act 2017. The scheduled meeting is set for October 4 at 2 pm at the ECP Secretariat located in Islamabad.
In its statement, the ECP mentioned that it has sent a copy of the draft Code of Conduct to the leaders of political parties, allowing them to provide feedback during the consultation process. The draft Code of Conduct is also available on the Election Commission’s official website.
This October 4 meeting follows previous discussions between the ECP and political parties regarding the electoral roadmap. Disagreements have arisen over the timeframe for elections.
The ECP has ruled out holding elections within the current year, citing the necessity for fresh delimitation of constituencies, a requirement stemming from the notification of the latest 2023 digital census.
As per Article 224 of the Constitution, elections are mandated to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, which occurred three days before the assembly’s constitutional term ended. This constitutional deadline is set for November 7.
However, Section 17(2) of the Elections Act stipulates that “the commission shall delimit constituencies after every census is officially published.”
During the previous consultations with the ECP, political parties expressed varying viewpoints on the timing of elections. Some parties emphasized the need for fresh delimitation, while others, notably the PTI and PPP, called for holding elections within the constitutional timeframe.
