ISLAMABAD: In a fresh development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali on Friday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections in the province on October 8, the date set by the election watchdog for Punjab. What has been announced? Increase in terrorist activities
The governor, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, said it would be “in the best interest of the people and the interest of the state” if the elections were held in October instead of the earlier date he had suggested. May 28.
The ECP’s decision to withdraw the pre-announcement for the Punjab elections came after security and financial institutions refused to support the commission during the upcoming polls.
The governor noted that recently there has been a fresh wave of terrorist attacks on a daily basis in the North Western Province.
He said that major acts of terrorism include firing from across the border in North Waziristan, explosion of an improvised explosive device on an army vehicle in Kohat, heavy exchange of fire with terrorists in South Waziristan on March 15, Bara police station in Khyber. Involved firing by unknown terrorists. On March 19
Citing further incidents, he said a terrorist attack on a police station in DI Khan followed by a search operation by the army resulted in the martyrdom of three army jawans on the intervening night of March 21 and 22.
He added that on March 21, a convoy was ambushed in South Waziristan as a result of which Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Barki was martyred and seven other officials were injured.
The governor added in the letter that since the ECP has postponed the date of election for general elections in Punjab to October 8, it is also suggested that the same date be fixed as the election day for general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. .
It should be noted that the government has welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to postpone the elections till October, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly rejected it and announced to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
In November last year, PTI chairman Imran Khan announced the dissolution of the KP and Punjab assemblies, and after much back and forth, the legislative assemblies were dissolved in January — Punjab on January 14 and in KP. On January 18.
Then came the stage of announcing election dates and the governors of both the provinces were reluctant to release the dates until the Supreme Court order on March 1 – directed President Arif Alvi to announce the dates for Punjab elections and Ali for KP. Announce the
After the announcement of the dates, the ECP consulted the provincial and federal authorities, and did not get a favorable response, as the authorities refused to support the election watchdog.
Citing its responsibility to ensure fair elections in the country, the Election Organizing Authority, in a notification, outlined its various efforts to ensure that the commission discharges its responsibilities diligently.
But a determined PTI has vowed to go to the Supreme Court and challenge the ECP’s decision against holding elections in Punjab on April 30.
Addressing a joint press conference yesterday, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry Fawad, along with PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, announced that they would be against the ECP for “violating the Constitution”. Approaching the Supreme Court.
