PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali Friday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the general elections in the province on October 8, the same date the electoral watchdog has announced for Punjab, keeping in mind a rise in terror activities.
On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified new schedule for general elections to the Punjab Assembly and wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi to take him into confidence over the decision to delay Punjab polls.
In letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Friday, the governor said it would be in the “best public interest as well as in the interest of the state” if polls were held in October instead of a previous date that he had suggested — May 28.
The ECP’s decision to withdraw an earlier announcement for Punjab elections came after security and financial bodies refused to back the commission during the upcoming polls.
“It has been reported that ECP has issued Order dated 22 March, 2023 whereby for detailed reasons stated therein, the general elections to the Punjab Assembly have been postponed and issued a fresh elections schedule for October 8, 2023. Your good office must note that subsequent to my last letter, fresh wave of terrorist activities have been taking place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis”, the letter read.
Major terrorist activities include cross border fire in North Waziristan, IED blast on Army Vehicle in Kohat, heavy exchange of fire with terrorists in South Waziristan on 15 March, Unknown terrorists fire on Police Station Bara, District Khyber on 19 March, terrorist attack on Police Station in DI Khan followed by search operation by the Army resulting into martyrdom of 3 Army Soldiers on night 21-22 March, 2023.
On 21 March 2023, a convoy was ambushed in South Waziristan resulting into Martyrdom of Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Burki from ISI and injuring 7 other ranks wherein 2 are critically injured,” wrote KP governor.
“Since the ECP has postponed the election date for the general elections to the Punjab Assembly to October 8, 2023, therefore, it is also suggested that same date, be proposed/appointed as election date for general elections to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the best public interest as well as in the interest of the state,” said the KP governor.
‘New schedule for Punjab elections notified’
On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a notification regarding the holding of general elections in Punjab.
According to the electoral watchdog notification, the polling for the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on October 8, 2023. The ECP also withdrew its earlier schedule regarding the holding of general elections to the Punjab Assembly on April 30.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi to take him into confidence over the decision to delay Punjab polls. The ECP letter stated that a schedule for elections in Punjab was issued in the light of the Supreme Court decision as it was the responsibility of the electoral body to hold fair and transparent elections.
The letter further said that for transparent and fair elections, meetings were held with the Punjab governor, caretaker government, security agencies, chief secretary and others, but all the stakeholders were not ready for immediate elections, while the provision of security was also denied. The letter also referred to Article 218 (3) of the Constitution and Sections 58 and 8C of the Election Act 2017, under which elections were cancelled.
