ECP urged to tackle parties' concerns ahead of polls

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address the apprehensions raised by various political parties regarding the February 8 general elections.

Speaking to a private news channel, he called on the electoral body to convene a high-level meeting of the political parties that have expressed misgivings before the elections or a few days after them to take action after hearing their concerns.

He said that it was the provincial government’s duty to improve the law and order situation and protect the people.

Governor Ali highlighted the shared responsibility among the federal government, state institutions, and the army's commitment to deploying troops and offering the necessary support.

Addressing the issues of “law and order, 18-hour-long load-shedding, and toughest winter” hampering the electoral process, Governor Ali highlighted concerns among the public about the lack of momentum.

He stressed the challenges faced in regions such as Naran, Kalam, Swat, and Chitral due to harsh winter conditions, including reports forecasting snowfall in Peshawar.

He emphasised that despite these challenges, all political parties he engaged with expressed their desire for the elections to proceed, emphasising their demand for peace and protection.

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Asserting a “respectful request and suggestion” to the ECP, Governor Ali urged the commission to engage directly with the political parties and “convince” them about the security measures in place.

While acknowledging that the constitutional timeframe for holding elections had passed, Governor Ali stressed the need to consider these reservations.

He underscored the severity of the winter in Peshawar, raising questions about the feasibility of voter turnout in such conditions.

The statement came against the backdrop of reservations expressed by certain circles over security apprehensions tied to the ECP’s planned schedule.

On Friday, the Senate saw the passing of a resolution. Independent Senator Dilawar Khan spearheaded the resolution, advocating for a postponement of the polls due to prevailing security concerns.

However, the resolution’s passage faced widespread criticism from a spectrum of political parties. The caretaker information minister reiterated that neither the prime minister nor the federal cabinet had issued any directive calling for a delay in the elections.

Meanwhile, efforts were made to challenge the legitimacy of the resolution; the Supreme Court was approached to invalidate it and take action against its proponents.

In response, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed introduced a counter-resolution in the upper house the following day, underlining the importance of ensuring the timely execution of the polls.