Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially announced that the general elections in the country are scheduled to be held on February 11, 2024. This information was provided to the Supreme Court by the ECP's lawyer during a hearing of petitions calling for the timely conduct of elections across Pakistan.

According to ECP's lawyer Sajeel Swati, the elections will take place after the completion of the delimitation process on November 30. All necessary arrangements, including delimitation, are expected to be finalized by January 29. The delimitation process involves the demarcation of electoral constituencies and is expected to be completed within three to five days following January 29.

The lawyer mentioned that the ECP has decided to hold the elections on a Sunday to facilitate higher voter participation. Under this plan, the first Sunday after January 29 falls on February 4, and the second on February 11, which has been selected as the election date.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa emphasized that once the election date is announced, it will not be subject to change. The Supreme Court is committed to ensuring that the elections proceed as planned and will implement its decision to maintain the schedule.

During the hearing, CJP Isa directed the ECP's lawyer to consult with the chief election commissioner and the president to confirm the selected election date. The court expects both parties to agree on a date and inform the court about their decision. It was further mentioned that the court will remain available to address any issues that may arise.

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing until 2 pm and anticipates that the meeting between the Election Commission and the president will result in a resolution regarding the election date. The court's order will be provided to the president for review, and it is expected that all parties involved will sign the document to finalize the election date.