KARACHI: After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) issued a final list of delimitations, Pakistan Peoples’ Party leader Sharjeel Memon yesterday said that the party will utilize “constitutional” means to convey its reservations over the redrawing of the national and provincial assemblies’ constituencies.

Earlier this week, the electoral watchdog, amid rumors of delay in general polls, notified the final list of delimitation of constituencies of the national and four provincial assemblies.

The development would pave the way for the announcement of the election schedule, which is expected during the first week of December as announced by the ECP. It had earlier stated that the final list of delimitations would be published on December 15 but it was later revised to November 30.

In its notification, the ECP said that according to Article 51(3) of the Constitution, the National Assembly consists of 266 general seats, with 60 seats reserved for women and additionally 10 for non-Muslims.

The former Sindh information minister, while addressing a press conference in Karachi today, said that the PPP has strong objections against the recent delimitations of constituencies in both provincial and national assemblies in light of the upcoming elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024.

“No one will be allowed to rig the election, we will fight against rigging,” Memon said. Speaking about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) insistence on constituencies to be done as per their will, Memon said: “If so, they should not go to the election and go directly to the government.” Commenting on the alliance between MQM-P and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) against the PPP in Sindh, the PPP leader termed it “equal to zero plus zero”, pointing towards their “ineffective” political impact.

“PPP opponents will be defeated in the election this time as well,” Memon said. However, he also highlighted that the PPP is not in a fight with any party including the PML-N. “We do not want politics of hatred. We all have to forget all hatred and sit together.” But if any political party talks against the PPP, he added, the party will respond.

Taking a jibe at the PML-N for its Lahore-centred politics, Memon said that the PPP represents Pakistan and is not a regionally-restricted political party. “ “The country develops practical work, not on pompousness and slogans.” He questioned the PML-N if they have done any development outside of Lahore. The politician claimed that the PPP has shown a ray of hope to the people.

“PPP is people’s hope. The party will participate in the elections with people’s support and become a majority party,” he added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 04 2023

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