ISLAMABAD: The election monitor is “fully prepared” for the polls on February 8, according to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
In a statement issued following a high-level meeting organized by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to review the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, CEC Raja stated that those causing disturbances to the law and order situation would face severe consequences from the Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies.
The CEC voiced concerns about recent attacks on election offices and demonstrations in KP and Balochistan during the meeting, which was also attended by intelligence officers and the acting interior minister.
The CEC made it clear that despite these security concerns, the election process will proceed as planned. The ECP statement stated, “There should be no doubts about the fact that elections will be held on time.”
Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Sikandar Sultan Raja, promised on Thursday that there won’t be an internet outage in the nation during the upcoming elections, which are scheduled on February 8.
Raja stated, “It has been assured that security will be provided during the elections,” when addressing the media in Islamabad. The ECP CEC reaffirmed that, no matter what, general elections will take place on February 8.
“We fully trust law enforcement organizations (LEAs). We are serving the nation and harbor no animosity toward anyone.”
“All the political parties are equal for us,” declared Raja. We [ECP] met with the lawyers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling.”
More nomination papers from the PTI than from any other party had been submitted. As soon as we have any new information, we will examine the PTI intraparty elections,” Raja stated.
“We are providing security to those who are facing threats,” declared the top elections monitor.
Raja gave his opinion on the country’s icy weather when he stated, “We have concerns over the areas that are witnessing the snowfall.”
He clarified that the PTI had not submitted any application to the election oversight body.
“It appears that there is animosity behind the assassination of the candidates,” Raja remarked. The inquiry into the candidates’ assassination is currently under progress.”
Raja chaired the elections watchdog’s meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday. “No proposals are being reviewed about delaying the polls in KP and Balochistan,” the ECP stated on this occasion.
Topics related to the ballot papers’ publishing were covered during the meeting.
