K-P govt requests ECP to postpone polls in tribal districts

Upcoming polls to be the first ever constitutional transition of power in the merged districts

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to request postponing the July 2 provincial assembly elections in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) by 20 days.

The request was communicated to the commission's secretary in a letter penned by the provincial government on June 3.

The upcoming elections will mark the first constitutional transition of power to be experienced by the people of the tribal districts.



Citing the 'unwarranted situation', the letter quoted cross-border skirmishes including the recent terror attacks in North Waziristan, thereby seeking an extension under a constitutional provision of 25 days.

The letter further stated that "threats of serious nature from across the border and some developments within the newly merged districts may sabotage the whole process of holding of forthcoming polls".

A total of 16 seats in the newly merged districts will be up for grabs during the polls.