CCI ‘unanimously’ approves 2023 census, decision could lead to delay in the general elections
Under the law, if a new census is notified, the ECP is bound to hold elections on the basis of new data.
The Council of Common Interest (CCI) meeting on Saturday “unanimously” approved the 2023 census.
This decision is likely to lead to a delay in the general elections.
According to the insiders, the CCI huddle unanimously approved the latest digital census despite the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, had publicly expressed reservations over it.
The general elections are likely to be delayed over a couple of months as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would need additional time to conduct the delimitation exercise afresh.
Under the law, if a new census is notified, the ECP is bound to hold elections on the basis of new data.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the CCI attended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to sources.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Adviser to the PM on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira and other officials were also in attendance in the meeting.
According to the sources, the Ministry of Planning briefed the participants on the digital census 2023, according to which Pakistan’s population has reached 240.10 million.
Moreover, the results of the 2023 census were also presented during the CCI meeting.
