KARACHI: After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finalized the delimitations, Sharjeel Memon, leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stated on Sunday that the party intends to express its concerns about the redrawing of national and provincial assembly constituencies through “constitutional” channels.

Earlier in the week, the electoral watchdog released the conclusive list of delimitations for the national and four provincial assemblies amid speculation of a potential delay in the general polls. This development is anticipated to pave the way for the announcement of the election schedule, expected in the first week of December, contrary to the initially stated date of December 15.

The ECP’s notification specified that, according to Article 51(3) of the Constitution, the National Assembly comprises 266 general seats, with 60 reserved for women and an additional 10 for non-Muslims.

During a press conference, here Sunday, the former Sindh information minister conveyed the PPP’s strong objections to the recent delimitations of both provincial and national assembly constituencies in light of the upcoming elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.

Memon emphasized the party’s commitment to opposing any attempts at election rigging, asserting, “No one will be allowed to rig [the election], we will fight against rigging.”

Regarding the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) insistence on having constituencies aligned with their preferences, Memon suggested that if they desire such control, they should abstain from participating in the election and approach the government directly.

Commenting on the alliance between MQM-P and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) against the PPP in Sindh, Memon dismissed its significance, referring to it as “equal to zero plus zero” and highlighting its perceived “ineffective” political impact.

While expressing a desire for collaborative and non-hateful politics, Memon clarified that the PPP is not engaged in a rivalry with any party, including the PML-N, but will respond if any political party speaks against the PPP.

Taking a swipe at the PML-N’s Lahore-centric politics, Memon asserted that the PPP represents the entirety of Pakistan and is not confined to regional interests. He questioned the PML-N’s track record of development outside Lahore, emphasizing the PPP’s commitment to being a beacon of hope for the people.

“PPP is the people’s hope. The party will participate in the elections with the support of the people and aim to become a majority party,” Memon concluded.