Delimitation of constituencies: 1,286 representations may delay polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has received a total of 1,286 representations regarding delimitation of constituencies of the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies and on the last day (Tuesday), 557 representations were filed.

Maximum 706 representations were filed from Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, 284 from Sindh, 192 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, and 104 from Balochistan. Till Monday, 729 representations were filed. There was massive rush of visitors for filing representations Tuesday, therefore, the ECP decided to entertain all those, who were present inside the premises of the Election Commission Secretariat after 4:pm in the afternoon.

The ECP will begin hearing representations from Wednesday (today) and Kasur and Battagram have been listed over 16 have filed representations about provincial and the National Assembly constituencies. “Tentative days for completion of hearing into representations is one month, however, it appears almost impossible to wrap up the complicated job during this stipulated time i.e. first week of next month,” conceded a senior official of the ECP when approached by The News.

There are already speculations that the general election could be delayed by some months, mainly due to representations at the ECP.

Meanwhile, the full bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza, will resume hearing the cases of horse-trading in recent Senate elections Wednesday at 10:00 am.