The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has revealed its plan to conduct general elections before October 11, provided the National Assembly dissolved by August 12 which will mark completion of its tenure.
During a media briefing on Thursday, ECP’s Special Secretary, Zafar Iqbal, alongside Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, announced the election timeline and key arrangements.
The electoral body stated that the elections would be held on the basis of delimitation conducted after the 2017 census.
Addressing security concerns, the ECP confirmed its efforts to enlist security officials to maintain a secure environment during the electoral process. The commission assured that it was in constant communication with all relevant institutions to guarantee a smooth and secure voting experience.
In preparation for the elections, the ECP has procured watermarked paper to prevent any potential tampering with ballot materials, enhancing the overall integrity of the voting process.
Furthermore, the ECP has approached the judiciary to deploy officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the electoral constituencies.
Emphasizing electoral reforms, Zafar Iqbal asserted that the upcoming elections would be conducted in line with the new amendments made to the Election Act 2017 during the previous month’s parliamentary session. These amendments seek to enhance the electoral process and improve transparency.
The bill outlining the changes to the electoral process was approved by Sadiq Sanjarani, who was the interim president at the time. Senate Chairman Sanjrani assumed the role of acting president as President Arif Alvi departed for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. The summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was subsequently signed, confirming the amendments.
