Chairman Pakistan Social Services Partnership (PSSP) Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal on Sunday said that census 2017 is necessary for fresh delimitation of constituencies.
In a statement, he said, "Census 2017 is a prerequisite to provide the principle of equality of votes during upcoming General Election in Pakistan as per true spirit of codified principle in article 25(b) of the United Nation's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Pakistan in year 2010."
Kanwar Javed also referred that, "The delimitation practices are also codified in the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters adopted by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), October 2002."
He urged the need to ensure accuracy and transparency during the course of Census survey 2017. He maintained that, "The Census Data 2017 will help in better planning, strengthen democratic processes at all tiers and assist in removing prevailing controversies and shortcomings of previous delimitation thus help in ensuring a fair process for upcoming general election."
He said, "The controversies and anomalies, such as poorly designed geographical layout of NA-148 based on ethnic grounds together with negative motives etc, are grey areas in previously exercised delimitation for national and provincial assemblies for year 2002, and now population growth dynamics has also rendered another major shortcoming to move forward for upcoming General Election with existing delimitation arrangement, would not be a fair process for the nation at large."
He added, "Pakistan Social Services Partnership (PSSP, a coalition of 85 CSOs in Pakistan) strongly supports the decision made through Council of Common Interest (CCI) and welcomes timely start of sixth population and housing census 2017, to strengthen democratic processes with latest and accurate results."
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