The provisional results of the population census have generated a storm of controversy with all major parties, excepting the PML-N and its allies, contesting the results released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. With the final population census data still being compiled, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) may not have time to carry out fresh delimitation of constituencies for the next general election 2018.
To reshape boundaries, an official of ECP said that the ECP needs final census data as well as digital maps along with the description of areas and clearly-marked boundaries of the national and provincial assemblies' constituencies. PBS had already conveyed to the ECP that it would not be able to obtain the population headcounts by April 2018. "After the PBS informed the ECP that the final data would only be available early next year, the ECP has decided to review its earlier plan to start work on delimitations from September 2017", the official said.
Former Secretary ECP Kanwar Dilshad said the ECP can only start delimitation exercise after receiving final data under Delimitation Act 1974. However, he suggested the ECP to complete its homework on the basis of interim census results so that general elections may be held on time with the existing data. The official of ECP further said that it would require at least 10 months for delimitation of all the constituencies in the country after the final results of the census are made public.
The last delimitation of the constituencies was done in 2002 on the basis of the 1998 census and political parties accepted the process with minor complaints during General Musharraf's regime. According to provisional census figures, Pakistan's population has surged to 207.77 million, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent from calendar year 1998.
According to provisional summary results of the census, which were presented in the Council of Common Interests Friday past, rural population was estimated at 132,189,531 and urban at 75,584,989, showing an overall population growth of 57 percent during the period 1998-2017.
Major political parties from Sindh and Balochistan have expressed serious reservations over the veracity of the provisional figures accusing the federal government of depriving them of their share in parliament and National Finance Commission Award. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-P (MQM), federal government coalition partner Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP-Balochistan), Qaumi Watan Party and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) have already expressed reservations over the provisional figures of the census.
Pakistan People's Party leaders said that census result did not present true picture of Sindh's population. The party would raise the issue at all platforms, including the parliament.
Senator Islamuddin Sheikh of PPP told Business Recorder that some angle has been given in the census figures and the party is reviewing it. After completion of consultation, the matter would be raised in the Parliament, he added.
PPP's MPA Saeed Ghani questioned that how can be 52 per cent population of Sindh in cities and Punjab is the most urbanized province. It seems that the figures are wrong, he expressed doubts.
Senator Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) told Business Recorder that his party has serious reservations over the census results as it is not based on reality. The figures shown in the census results are much lower than the actual and the party has decided to raise it in the Parliament. All the funds distributions would be based on these results and by showing little population would hurt the province, Musakhel added.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) is also raising voice over the statistics and holding a massive protest rally to condemn the results and termed it victimization of the urban region of Sindh province. Whereas Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Syed Mustafa Kamal not only rejected the census 2017 results but announced to reveal party strategy in a press conference soon.
Dr Farooq Sattar addressing party general workers meeting of MQM-P on Sunday rejected the census 2017 results. He said that census figures were manipulated while these wrong figures would give very adverse effects in urban region of Sindh.
MQM's Senator Mashhadi told Business Recorder that census 2017 figures are manipulated and a chunk of data on Karachi is missing, added that census figures have been manipulated by vested interests in Sindh and wrong figures have very adverse effects. Professor Ibrahim Khan said it seemed that the figure of Fata's population is incorrect. He said Pakistan Army quoted population of only North Waziristan 2 million before the start of the military operation and population census is showing total population of Fata, 5 million.
Dr Arif Alvi, a member of Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, told Business Recorder that it would be the responsibility of the government to evolve a political consensus after the census for fair delimitation of the constituencies across the country; otherwise veracity of the next elections would become questionable.
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