The recent developments in Pakistan show that the system is ready for general elections in the country. The situation has significantly changed from just weeks ago when several legal and technical challenges had clouded the prospects of elections being held anytime soon.
The ECP, when the PTI government had unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly and called an early election, had told that the commission was in no position to conduct polls within the constitutionally mandated three months due to legal and procedural issues.
A bill amending the law pertaining to EVMs and overseas Pakistanis’ voting rights sent for the final approval to the presidential has been sent back to the government for reconsideration. . Even after the refusal of President Arif Alvi to sign it — a joint session of parliament can still be called to enact it as law.
Similarly, the chief election commissioner just recently announced that the ECP is “always ready for elections”, following a report nearly two weeks ago that the delimitation of National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies, based on the 2017 census results, would be complete by mid-August. The former prime minister is demanding the announcement of early elections as he thinks it is the only solution of the problems being faced by the country.
Meanwhile, the federal-government ruling out the possibility of early elections has said that it will complete its term. The recent steps of the government of hiking fuel, electricity and gas prices show that the PML-N government is willing to complete the current term and elections will be held after reforms.
