Pakistan's Election Commission is currently in the process of addressing a total of 1,324 objections that have been submitted in response to the preliminary constituencies proposed for the upcoming elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Saturday.
These objections, spanning all provinces and Islamabad, highlight the significant public interest in the fairness and accuracy of electoral boundaries.
Of the total objections received, 672 were raised in Punjab, 228 in Sindh, 293 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 124 in Balochistan, and 7 in Islamabad. This diverse array of concerns showcases a widespread engagement with the electoral process and a commitment to ensuring that constituencies are designed to reflect the evolving demographics and needs of the population.
The Election Commission is poised to take a comprehensive approach to address these objections, with the hearing process set to commence on November 1, 2023. Specialized benches have been constituted to deliberate on these concerns, ensuring a thorough review.
Notices for these hearings have already been dispatched to the objectors, scheduling their appearance before the Commission on the 1st and 2nd of November.
Upon the completion of these hearings and the due process, the Election Commission is expected to publish the final delimitation of constituencies on November 30, 2023. This publication is a significant step toward ensuring that constituencies accurately reflect the distribution of population and the changing demographic landscape.
In an effort to facilitate public participation, the Election Commission extended the deadline for objections related to the delimitation of constituencies to October 27, 2023, until 12:00 pm.
Reporter: Usman Khan