ISLAMABAD
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said on Wednesday the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will work in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan, adding that the electoral body always remains ready to conduct polls, as per constitution.
During an informal talk with reporters as the two newly elected members of ECP took oath Wednesday, the head of country’s electoral body said “everyone is our friend” and the ECP makes decisions according to the law and Constitution.
Responding to the allegations of bias against the electoral watchdog, the CEC said, “The election commission makes its decisions fearlessly and it will continue to do so. If anyone is displeased by or disagrees with the decisions, it’s their problem.”
Talking about the preps made for coming general elections, Raja told reporters that government had to take the decision for fresh polls. However, his institution was ready to hold fresh elections. “ECP can’t accept results of census unless they are published officially,” he said, adding that “hence the demarcation of boundaries for constituencies cannot be carried out till then.”
The CEC recalled that a constitutional amendment was introduced with regard to delimitation and elections in 2018.
“The government now wants a digital census and delimitation can be completed on time if its results are released by December 2022,” he said. “If the results are delayed, the election will be held on the basis of the 2017 census.
