On Tuesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, emphasized the need for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to handle the delimitation process transparently, labelling it a critical public interest issue.
These sentiments were echoed during a Supreme Court session. Justices Bandial and Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi addressed concerns over inaccuracies in the delimitation of constituencies in Sindh’s Shikarpur district.
With the conclusion of the inaugural digital census, the ECP’s anticipated responsibility is to redefine constituency boundaries. However, this year’s general elections seem improbable given the predicted four to six months required for this operation.
Potential complexities in adjusting provincial assembly election boundaries due to varying population figures in districts were revealed. This disparity particularly impacts provincial seats, differing from National Assembly allocations.
Read: Digital Census Results: The Challenge of Redrawing District Boundaries
Justice Bandial, addressing the recurring delimitation discussions in the Supreme Court, pointed out that any alterations by revenue officials could skew voting outcomes. He reiterated the profound impact and sensitivity of the delimitation issue in Sindh.
When Justice Bandial inquired about the electoral timeline, the ECP’s legal chief refrained from commenting, leading to Justice’s lighthearted observation of the undecided election date.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court directed the ECP to clarify these concerns before any electoral proceedings and returned the initial petition to the Commission for further action.
