- Sanaullah says that the CCI will not notify the census as it has to complete its term.
- The minister says that the MQM-P does not even accept the 2023 census.
- He emphasized that there should be a consensus on the results of the census.
Islamabad: The government has decided not to notify the latest census and hold the upcoming general elections on the 2017 population census. news Reported on Sunday.
This statement was given by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah while speaking Geo News’ Show “Naya Pakistan” on Saturday night.
“The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has to complete its term. If this new census is not notified by then, the elections will be held on the basis of the previous census and delimitation.
“The government has decided that it will not notify [new census] And when the assemblies will be dissolved after completing their term, the Election Commission of Pakistan will be bound to hold elections on the basis of the last census,” he said.
Asked whether he meant that the CCI would not notify the new census, Sanaullah said the government would not notify the census as it had “issues”.
Besides, various stakeholders also have concerns over it, he added.
Highlighting the objections of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), an ally of the government at the Centre, to the 2017 census, Sanaullah said the party was dissatisfied with the new digital census.
“they do not [even] Accept this new census.”
He further said that there were complaints regarding the new census in Balochistan.
Emphasizing that there should be a consensus on the census results, he said it is important that all issues are resolved and any hasty decision on the census could lead to a “contentious situation” in the country.
He said that developing a consensus on the census would take all parties confidence that it would “take time”.
Separately on the consultation process of nominees for caretaker prime minister, Sanaullah said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was working on the matter, adding that the process could be completed in a week or 10 days. “The prime minister will consult the leader of the opposition and allies on this,” he said.
