ECP rejects KPBC misinformation on NA seats

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday dismissed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council’s (KPBC) claim about the reduction of seats in the National Assembly for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating: “It is baseless, contradicts facts, and aims to create confusion among the public.”

In a statement, an ECP spokesman clarified that in 2018, the 25th constitutional amendment merged the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Following the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 National Assembly seats in Fata were eliminated, and six seats were added to the National Assembly seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stated the spokesman.

According to the official news agency, the spokesman mentioned that the National Assembly seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have risen from 39 to 45, and the provincial assembly seats have increased from 99 to 115, with an additional 16 general seats. He emphasised that determining the seats of the national and provincial assemblies is the prerogative of the parliament.

The Election Commission is performing its duties according to the constitution and law without any pressure, the statement said.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC) expressed concern over under-counting the population of the province, depriving the people of several seats of the assemblies, media reports said on Thursday.

In a statement, KPBC Vice-Chairman Zarbadshah and Chairman Executive Council Mubashar Shah said that population was usually increasing with the passage of time in KP, but it was shown under count, which was deplorable.

The KPBC officials said it was an injustice with the people and province to deprive them of representation in the legislative assemblies.

They said that unnecessary alteration in delimitations had created hardships for the candidates while postings and transfers were being carried out despite announcement of the elections schedule.

The lawyers alleged that a certain political party was being favoured with connivance of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which they termed illegal and unconstitutional.

The KPBC demanded an immediate halt to such illegal practices and asked the ECP and government to ensure provision of level playing field to all the political parties and to hold fair, free and transparent elections.