By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan must hold a general election by October 2023, the country’s leading election watchdog said on Tuesday, warning that any delay would pose a serious threat to the country’s polity, economy, and integrity.
The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) said in a statement that the current National Assembly will complete its five-year term on August 12, 2023, and that a fresh general election must be held within 60 days of that date.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan must be fully prepared to hold the general election honestly, justly, and fairly as is its constitutional obligation,” the statement said.
PILDAT said that only a free and fair general election could bring back desperately needed political stability in Pakistan.
“Pakistan needs a government that has the mandate to take difficult decisions to fix the economy of the country in the next five years after the election,” the statement said.
PILDAT also warned that the accountability of individuals who are accused of committing crimes, such as attacking military properties, should not impede the political and electoral process.
The statement said that although the emergency provisions of the constitution allow the extension in the term of the National Assembly by up to one year, such an extension is not possible for the term of provincial assemblies.
“Any attempt to defer the National Assembly election under emergency provisions will stagger the schedule of national and provincial assembly elections which may create a similar situation that led to the postponement of the election of provincial assemblies in Punjab and KP beyond the constitutional limit of 90 days,” the statement said.
PILDAT urged that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics should complete its 2023 Population Census findings and that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approve the findings in time so that the Election Commission of Pakistan is able to complete the Delimitation of Constituencies well in time before the election in October 2023.
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