2023 Digital Census: Elections to Take More Than Five Months, Says Law Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday revealed that it will take more than five months to hold elections on the basis of the 2023 digital census.

Tarar: CCI Unanimously Confirms 2023 Census Results

Talking to a TV show, Tarar said that a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “unanimously” confirmed the 2023 census results.

As per Article 51 of the Constitution, the general elections for the national and provincial assemblies will be conducted as per the limits of the constituencies published by the Commission, he added.

ECP to Complete Delimitation Process

The law minister said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is to complete the delimitation process within an outer limit 120 days. However, it is the prerogative of the ECP as when they start the process.

He maintained that the census 2023 results show that provinces’ share in the general seats of the National Assembly will not change in the next elections.

Outer Limit of 120 Days Can Be Reduced

The outer limit of 120 days can be reduced by effective work, the law minister said, adding that 54 more days are required for the general elections. The entire process should not go beyond 150 to 165 days, he clarified.

CCI Agrees on Holding Elections Based on Census 2023

The law minister said that all eight members of the CCI agreed on holding the upcoming elections on the basis of Census 2023.

PM Shehbaz Sharif, all four chief ministers and other members of the body were among the attendees of the meeting, he added.