ECP rejects interior ministry’s request to postpone by-polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided that by-elections across the country as well as Sindh local body polls will be held on their scheduled time as it rejected requests of federal and the provincial governments to postpone the October 16 by-polls.

According to Express News, an important meeting of the ECP was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Besides the ECP members, the secretaries of the election commission, ministries of interior, defence, and chief secretaries, police chiefs of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh participated in the meeting.

The representatives of security agencies were also present in the meeting.

The CEC emphasised the importance of peaceful conduct of by-elections and local body elections in Karachi Division.

The secretary of the election commission briefed the participants on the preparations and said that the electoral watchdog has completed all the arrangements for the by-election in the nine national assembly and three provincial assembly constituencies.

The preparations for holding second phase of local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions have also been completed, the official added.

Also read: ECP to consult on security situation as govt requests delaying by-polls for 90 days

The secretaries of the ministries, chief secretaries, IGs and representatives of other security agencies also stated their position on holding elections in the meeting.

After hearing the position of all officers and representatives, the ECP rejected the request of the Ministry of Interior to postpone the by-election for 90 days and decided to hold by-elections on eight seats of the National Assembly and three seats of the Punjab Assembly at their scheduled time — October 16.

However, the ECP postponed the by-election on NA-45 Kurram seat, saying that a new date will be announced later.

Similarly, the second phase of local body elections in all the districts of Karachi and Hyderabad division will also be held on October 23 as per the schedule.