ISLAMABAD: The Senate resolution requesting a postponement of the polls scheduled for February 8 was denied by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which asserted that all preparations had already been made and that it would not be “advisable” to do so.
The ECP statement is a reaction to the Senate’s resolution from January 5, which was introduced by Senator Dilawar Khan and approved by the parliament despite low attendance.
The resolution had given two grounds for postponing the polls: the deteriorating security situation and the severe weather in highland areas.
The ECP said in a statement today that it discussed the resolution during the meeting and noted that directives had been given to caretaker governments to “beef up security matrix and provide congenial environment to the electorate” in order to ensure peaceful elections.
Additionally, the electoral authority stated that it promised to hold elections on February 8, 2024, and that it filed this pledge with the Supreme Court.
In a same vein, the ECP stated that it would not be inappropriate to bring up the fact that previous general elections and municipal elections were conducted during the winter.
Independent member Dilawar Khan pleaded with Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani earlier today to see to it that his resolution, which was just approved by the parliament’s upper house, asking for a postponement of the polls scheduled for February 8th, is carried out.
Also read: ECP approves printing of ballot papers for general elections
Many were shocked and incredulous when, on January 5, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a motion to postpone the nation’s general elections scheduled for February 8.
Despite the House’s explicit urging and the subsequent delivery of a copy of the resolution to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Senator Dilawar stated in a letter to the Senate chairman that “it is disconcerting that no tangible steps have been taken by the ECP to postpone the General Elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.”
Senator Dilawar, who proposed the resolution, stated that he was adamant that the issues raised in it ought to be resolved right away.
“In the absence of a resolution to the raised issues, the fundamental purpose of conducting free and fair elections appears compromised.”
