K-P Assembly polls saga takes new twist

Governor says further consultation needed

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) elections saga has taken yet another twist as on Friday it was revealed that the Governor Ghulam Ali sought more time to discuss the issue with all political parties during his meeting with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Islamabad.

Earlier, governor had announced that May 28 has been fixed for provincial assembly elections in K-P but now sources within the Provincial Elections Commission said that no fixed date has been given in this regard.

Governor Ghulam Ali sought more time for further consultation on the issue and he also asked the ECP to share with him more informations.

A meeting of ECP is being held in Islamabad today to discuss the issue in which it would be decided to consult governor K-P once more on the issue.

When contacted no official of ECP was available to comment on the matter and all officials kept their mum in this regard.

When contacted Govorner Haji Ghulam Ali said that 28 May has been given the election date to ECP but the consultation on the date was still going on and a final decision will be taken soon.

Background

On March 6, instead of giving a date for provincial assembly elections, Haji Ghulam Ali invited ECP for consultation, saying he would give a date for polls after deliberation.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court announced its verdict after two-day-long proceedings in the case regarding the delay in the announcement of the date of provincial elections in Punjab and K-P.

The apex court ordered that elections in both assemblies should be held in the next 90 days, with the chief justice saying that "democracy cannot exist without assemblies".

Following the top court’s decision, the ECP had written a letter to the K-P governor seeking a date for the elections, to which Ghulam Ali responded.

Speaking to Express News, Ali said he has invited the ECP officials for consultation on March 7 or 8.

He further said that he would evaluate the situation and set a date for the provincial assembly elections following consultation with ECP officials.

President Dr Arif Alvi has already announced that elections in Punjab province will be held on April 30.

PTI, the party Alvi belongs to, has called for free and fair elections in both provinces. In the past, PTI has criticised the delay in the announcement of election dates in the provinces, arguing that it is an infringement on democratic rights. The party has also called for the ECP to ensure transparent and impartial conduct of the electoral process.

By bringing forward the provincial polls, political analysts say PTI could pressure the coalition PDM government into holding a countrywide election earlier—a demand the party has been making since chairman Imran Khan was deposed as prime minister in April after losing a parliamentary vote of confidence.

The Express Tribune earlier reported that ECP has geared up preparations for the elections in Punjab and K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2023.