The Election Commission of Pakistan said on Wednesday it has scheduled a meeting with political parties next month to discuss the code of conduct for general elections, which it expects to hold in January — months beyond the constitutionally mandated cutoff date of November 7. The ECP announced the meeting in a statement that said the session was being held in accordance with Section 233 of the Elections Act 2017. It is scheduled for October 4 at 2pm at the Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad. “In this regard, a copy of the draft Code of Conduct has also been sent to the leaders of political parties so that they can provide their feedback during the consultation. A copy of the draft Code of Conduct is also available on the Election Commission’s website www.ecp.gov.pk,” the ECP statement said. The October 4 meeting follows separate meetings between the ECP and political parties on the electoral roadmap amid disagreements over the timeframe for elections. The ECP has ruled out elections this year, citing the need for fresh delimitation of constituencies following the notification of the latest 2023 digital census. Since the National Assembly was dissolved three days before the end of its constitutional term, Article 224 of the Constitution mandates that elections be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly by November 7.
