The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has assured the Awami National Party (ANP) that elections will be held by end of January or mid-February at the most, depending on the completion of delimitation of constituencies.

According to Geo News, ECP met with representatives of ANP, Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) to discuss the upcoming general election.

According to ANP leaders, the commission assured them of speeding up the process of delimitation, telling them that elections will not be delayed beyond mid-February.

In a statement released by the commission, ANP insisted on a date and schedule for the electoral exercise if elections were not being carrying out within 90 days. ANP believes that ECP should have consulted political parties before carrying out delimitation because under the constitution, the commission can not reduce or increase the seats given in the provinces.

On the contrary, the BAP delegation supported the initiation of delimitation, stating that not going for delimitation as per the new census would be an insult to political parties, candidates and the public, reported Geo News.

However, BNP representative Agha Hassan Baloch urged ECP to hold elections within 90 days. He highlighted that the new census seems to be faulty since the population of Balochistan has been reduced. “Therefore, our party believes that there is no use of new delimitation. If the election commission believes that delimitation is necessary, then the process should be corrected,” he said.

While speaking to the media, Mian Iftikhar of the ANP said that the electoral body will complete delimitation of constituencies soon in order to hold general elections no later than mid-February.