The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken a significant step in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections, which are anticipated early next year. The ECP has announced its intention to engage in consultations with major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to discuss critical aspects related to the elections.
These consultations will be conducted separately with each political party, covering a range of topics such as the election roadmap, delimitation, and voter lists. The ECP is set to commence these meetings in the coming days.
The prominent political parties slated for discussions with the electoral watchdog include the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
In a related development, the ECP expressed its satisfaction with the newly introduced Result Compilation System (RCS) during a briefing. The RCS enables presiding officers to swiftly transmit election results to the returning officer using a mobile app. This system also allows for the efficient compilation of inconclusive results, providing accurate and timely data on votes.
The election authority conducted rigorous mock exercises to assess the RCS, ensuring that all aspects of the system were thoroughly checked. Ultimately, the commission expressed its full satisfaction with the system’s functionality.
Furthermore, the ECP reviewed the progress of constituency delimitation for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies, taking into account the first-ever digital census set for 2023. The commission has communicated with provincial governments and the statistics department to secure necessary maps and data for the delimitation process.
In line with this effort, five delimitation committees, recently notified, will receive maps and data from districts, with the aim of completing fresh delimitations by August 31. This comprehensive approach ensures that preparations for the upcoming elections are proceeding efficiently and transparently.