ECP requested to put off by-polls for 90 days

Interior ministry writes to election supervisor

ISLAMABAD:

The Interior Ministry on Friday requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the by-elections scheduled to be held on October 16 for 90 days in view of "credible reports" from intelligence agencies that a "political party" was planning to besiege the federal capital.

In its letter to the poll supervisor, the ministry in an apparent reference to PTI, said that the party could "besiege" Islamabad between 12-17 October, which coincided with October 16 — the date on which the by-elections are slated for.

"This would require the maximum deployment of all available troops to maintain peace in the capital city," the letter read.

It also cited the losses incurred and the rise in diseases following the recent catastrophic floods as the reason for the postponement of by-polls.

The letter said that most resources have been diverted toward relief and rehabilitation efforts across flood-hit areas in the country; therefore, it would put immense strain on government agencies including the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Rangers, and other LEAs to utilise its resources and carry the extra work during election duties.

The ministry stated that if security personnel is not placed, it would raise questions on the credibility of the election as per the Constitution's Article 218 clause (3), which mandates the ECP "to organise and conduct the elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the elections are conducted honestly, justly, fairly, and in accordance with the law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against".

Read By-polls on 9 NA, 3 PA seats on October 16

The ministry has, therefore, requested the ECP to further extend the date of by-elections for 90 days or as deemed fit by the Commission.

The elections were scheduled to take place in NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-237 Malir and NA-239 Karachi.

The Interior ministry's letter comes after sources earlier told The Express Tribune that the Islamabad Capital Police has gathered more than 1,100 containers, with hundreds delivered to the federal capital in an effort to prevent the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ to the federal capital.

According to sources, the capital will be completely sealed for a week following PTI chief Imran Khan's announcement of a confirmed date for the march. Schools and colleges will be shut down for this duration and all exams will be postponed.

Sources claimed that 25,000 additional personnel will be brought to the capital to reinforce the ranks of the police force. The government will also provide around 50,000 rubber bullets and more than 60,000 tear gas shells to security forces in addition to ten drones.