It’ll be ‘inadvisable’ to defer Feb 8 polls ‘at this stage’: ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday refused to accept the Senate resolution, seeking postponement of February 08 election, saying: “It will be inappropriate for electoral watchdog to put off general elections at this stage”.

Responding to Senate resolution through a letter addressed to Senate Secretariat, the election commission wrote on Jan 13, that the electoral body reviewed the upper house resolution in a meeting of the commission.

“The ECP had fixed Feb 08 date for polling after consultation with the President and the interim governments have been issued comprehensive instructions to ensure law and order,” the ECP said in the letter.

“The election commission has completed all preparations for holding general elections,” according to letter.

“The general elections as well as local council elections had been held in the winter in the past while it had also submitted a commitment to the Supreme Court regarding holding of elections on Feb 08.”

The ECP concluded that it would not be “advisable” for the commission to postpone general elections “at this stage”.

Earlier in the day, Independent Senator Dilawar Khan wrote Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, pointing out the ECP inaction on the house’s resolution passed on January 05, seeking postponement of the election.

“As the custodian of the house, you must ensure to seek compliance of the resolution and postponement of Feb 08 elections,” the letter further read.

It is to be mentioned here that another resolution seeking delay in the February 08 polls were moved in the Senate on last Sunday, citing the weather and security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Senator Hilalur Rehman of the Independent Parliamentary Group submitted the resolution citing severe cold weather, snowfall, and security challenges as the hindrances for the general elections.

It added that the date of Feb 8 to hold the elections is not suitable. The resolution urged the ECP to delay polls to a date which was acceptable for all the relevant stakeholders.

It merits mention here that it was the third resolution moved in the upper house demanding delay in elections.

A similar resolution was tabled in the Senate a couple of days ago.

The resolution was moved by Senator Hidayatullah, a member of Pakistan’s upper house from the Independent Parliamentary Group.

It is to be noted that earlier this month, the Upper House of Parliament adopted a resolution, which was moved by independent Senator Dilawar Khan during a session with only 15 lawmakers in attendance. It sought polls delay in the light of extreme weather in hilly areas and the deteriorating security situation.

‘Elections to be held on Feb 8’

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi categorically said on Monday that the Election Commission of Pakistan and federal and provincial governments were committed to hold general elections in the country on February 8.

Using his account on social media platforms he said, “govt is committed to hold elections on Thursday, February 8 and so are the federal and provincial governments.”

ECP is committed to hold elections on Thursday, February 8 and so are the federal and provincial governments. Period. pic.twitter.com/bW0s8FDBhm

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) January 15, 2024

He said that the federal and provincial governments would fulfil all administrative, financial and security requirements of the ECP, he added.