Constituencies delimitation: Working group expresses serious reservations

ISLAMABAD: The working group of special committee on delimitation of the constituencies Monday expressed serious reservations over the process of delimitations, questioning transparency in the whole process and sought details of the delimitation committees from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

However, the ECP officials refused to share details of delimitations saying that their request would be submitted to the electoral body, which will take the final decision in this regard.

The working group headed by its Chairman Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz mentioned that the Election Commission violated rules and laws in process of delimitations and even the law passed by the Parliament was also violated. It said it will wait till today (Tuesday) for submission of details and if it wasn’t done then the committee would formulate its recommendations for the Parliament.

Besides seeking details of the delimitation committees, the working group also summoned the Pakistan Bureau of Statistic (PBS) officials to tell the committee dates of releasing results of population census.

During the meeting, there were serious reservations among the parliamentarians from both sides of the isle with regard to delimitation of constituencies as they opined that delimitations were made in such a way that it fully changed the demography of constituencies. Talking to media persons after the meeting, Daniyal Aziz said the ECP should give details of delimitation of the constituencies. “It is the first principle of transparency that information must be given to the delimitation committee,” he said.

He pointed out differences in the delimitation maps, saying that there is huge difference in south and north of the provincial and national assemblies’ constituencies.