The duration of the next caretaker setup of the country will be decided at the approaching final meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), scheduled to be held on July 25.
As per the agenda, the CCI would contemplate on whether to certify the recently-held digital population census in the country. If the chief ministers of all the provinces agree to sanction the census, it would definitely delay the general elections, background discussions with the senior politicians revealed.
The approval of the latest digital population would turn the table; even though the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is committed to holding the upcoming general elections on the previous delimitation of constituencies,
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to hand over reins of the government to the caretaker setup next month, but there is still confusion about the schedule of the next general elections. With the approval of the digital population census a cause of concern, there are some hidden reasons for delaying the polls.
Political experts are of the view that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is still making efforts to delay the polls until such a time that party supremo Nawaz Sharif can return safely and be acquitted in the cases lodged against him -- particularly his disqualification from contesting elections.
This process would obviously cause a delay in the polls.
Another reason for the delay could be the evolving law and order situation in the country where terrorism has seen a resurgence. The schedule of the elections cannot be announced without clearance issued by the interior ministry and law enforcement agencies.
READ MORE: Security Challenges Continue To Mount In 2023
The economic situation could also be a possible reason to delay the elections, as last year the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be held due to a paucity of funds.
Some of the main coalition partners and political experts are of the opinion that they should wait for the decision of the courts in former prime minister Imran Khan's cases before taking any final decision about the general elections. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has a long history of delaying the election for different reasons.
As per the agenda, the CCI would contemplate on whether to certify the recently-held digital population census in the country. If the chief ministers of all the provinces agree to sanction the census, it would definitely delay the general elections, background discussions with the senior politicians revealed.
The approval of the latest digital population would turn the table; even though the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is committed to holding the upcoming general elections on the previous delimitation of constituencies,
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to hand over reins of the government to the caretaker setup next month, but there is still confusion about the schedule of the next general elections. With the approval of the digital population census a cause of concern, there are some hidden reasons for delaying the polls.
Political experts are of the view that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is still making efforts to delay the polls until such a time that party supremo Nawaz Sharif can return safely and be acquitted in the cases lodged against him -- particularly his disqualification from contesting elections.
This process would obviously cause a delay in the polls.
Another reason for the delay could be the evolving law and order situation in the country where terrorism has seen a resurgence. The schedule of the elections cannot be announced without clearance issued by the interior ministry and law enforcement agencies.
READ MORE: Security Challenges Continue To Mount In 2023
The economic situation could also be a possible reason to delay the elections, as last year the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be held due to a paucity of funds.
Some of the main coalition partners and political experts are of the opinion that they should wait for the decision of the courts in former prime minister Imran Khan's cases before taking any final decision about the general elections. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has a long history of delaying the election for different reasons.