Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the general elections might be postponed until March of the next year, when the Council of Common Interests (CCI) authorizes the revised census, necessitating a new delineation of constituencies by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
While talking to Geo News, the minister said, "If constituency delimitation is carried out, then the elections will be held in the third week of February or the first week of March."
After the CCI meeting on Saturday "unanimously" authorised the 2023 headcount, the ECP is required to organize the forthcoming general elections, which were previously slated for October or November of this year, on the basis of a new digital census.
The four chief ministers and the representatives of all political parties concurred in approving the census for 2023, according to a statement released after the meeting.
Sanaullah said, in reference to the CCI ruling, "In my view, holding new delimitations is a constitutional duty."
He argued that it is against the Constitution to base two general elections on the results of one census.
He said that the Constitution also required that new constituency delineations take place following the formal notification of the results of the next census.
Additionally, he acknowledged that political parties have voiced a number of concerns regarding the findings of the census in 2023.
Sanaullah stated that no choice has been made for the interim prime minister of the government when asked about the caretaker PM's appointment.
The federal minister said, "The MQM-P has proposed the name of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori for the post," adding that another coalition member, the PPP, also intended to give one or two names."
He stated that the interim prime minister's official name would be revealed today (Tuesday).
The PDM-led government has announced that the National Assembly will be prematurely dissolved on August 9, allowing the ECP to organize elections within 90 days rather than 60 if the House ends its constitutional term on August 12.
While talking to Geo News, the minister said, "If constituency delimitation is carried out, then the elections will be held in the third week of February or the first week of March."
After the CCI meeting on Saturday "unanimously" authorised the 2023 headcount, the ECP is required to organize the forthcoming general elections, which were previously slated for October or November of this year, on the basis of a new digital census.
The four chief ministers and the representatives of all political parties concurred in approving the census for 2023, according to a statement released after the meeting.
Sanaullah said, in reference to the CCI ruling, "In my view, holding new delimitations is a constitutional duty."
He argued that it is against the Constitution to base two general elections on the results of one census.
He said that the Constitution also required that new constituency delineations take place following the formal notification of the results of the next census.
Additionally, he acknowledged that political parties have voiced a number of concerns regarding the findings of the census in 2023.
Sanaullah stated that no choice has been made for the interim prime minister of the government when asked about the caretaker PM's appointment.
The federal minister said, "The MQM-P has proposed the name of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori for the post," adding that another coalition member, the PPP, also intended to give one or two names."
He stated that the interim prime minister's official name would be revealed today (Tuesday).
The PDM-led government has announced that the National Assembly will be prematurely dissolved on August 9, allowing the ECP to organize elections within 90 days rather than 60 if the House ends its constitutional term on August 12.