Election in newly merged districts to be held on time

Meeting of security agencies, district administrations, election commission held

PESHAWAR/ DI KHAN: A high-level meeting of the military and district administration in the newly merged districts and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Election Commission has decided to hold election in these areas on time.

The security set-up in the merged districts has told the K-P election commission and the civilian authorities not to delay the polls unnecessarily.

Elections for the provincial assembly seats in the newly merged districts have been scheduled for July 20. In this regard a high level meeting was held in Peshawar on Friday to discuss the electioneering process.

Top officers of the security agencies and officials of district administration of the seven tribal districts attended the meeting.

A source privy to the proceedings of the meeting said it has been decided to hold the election on time and no delay would be allowed in this regard, while security parameters, election materials, districts officials input about their respective districts were also discussed in the meeting.

The district administration officials were asked to hold the election in their respective districts, while security officials were also directed to provide an environment conducive for election campaigning.

Meanwhile the provincial election commission has also taken notice of the arrested of political figures in the South Waziristan and also have showed reservation on the arrested of the various party leadership and candidates.

The election commission has summoned the secretary interior and official dealing with the affairs of the merged districts and asked them to present their cases on the arrested and imposing law and order situation in the South Waziristan on 28 June.

The election commission has also directed the officials concern to submit their explanation on the arrest and imprisoning of two independent candidates from the South Waziristan under 3MPO.

The election commission takes it as hampering the electioneering process in the merged districts and demanded that swift action on their release should be take place.

Its pertinent to mentioned here that two independent candidate Muhmamad Arif of PK-113 and Muhammad Iqbal of PK 114 have been arrested few days before under 3 MPO, while the offices of the Awami National Party (ANP) was stormed by the local police and arrested few leaders and searching for the arrest of candidate in the area.

The opposition candidates have blamed that the district administration has allowed the PTI led candidates to run their election campaigns freely, while arresting, storming election offices  of opposition, and dismantling their camps. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2019.