— Senator Dilawar Khan writes to Senate chairman for polls delay
— ECP turns down Senate resolution, says polls on Feb 8
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday expressed its inability to accept the Senate resolution seeking postponement of February 08 general elections.
The election commission in a letter to the Senate Secretariat wrote that the electoral body reviewed the upper house resolution in a session.
“The ECP had fixed Feb 08 date for polling after consultation with the President,” letter read. “Caretaker governments have been issued instructions to ensure law and order,” ECP said.
“The election commission has completed all preparations for holding general elections,” according to letter.
“General elections as well as local council elections used to happen in the past in winter. The ECP has also assured the Supreme Court of holding elections on Feb 08,” letter read.
“It will be inappropriate for election commission to put off general elections at this stage”.
Earlier today, Senator Dilawar Khan in a letter addressed to Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani pointed out inaction of the election commission over 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.
Senator Dilawar Khan writes to Senate chairman for polls delay
Senator Dilawar Khan, head of Independent Parliamentary Group, has expressed concern that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has so far taken no step to postpone the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024 as demanded by the upper House of the parliament through its resolution dated January 5, 2024, it emerged on Monday.
In a letter to the Senate chairman, Dilawar has stressed the need for addressing the concerns raised in the resolution.
He has further said it appears that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by not addressing these concerns is in a mood to make a compromise on holding free and fair elections. “It must be ensured that the elections are postponed,” reads the letter.
On Friday, a fresh resolution was submitted to the Senate Secretariat, seeking a three-month delay in the polls.
Prior to that, on January 5, a thinly attended session of the Senate had become the talk of the town after it passed a resolution, seeking the postponement of the elections over security and bad weather concerns.
The resolution, which was not initially scheduled for discussion, was introduced by Senator Dilawar Khan, and received support primarily from the senators belonging to Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
