Islamabad, Jan 16: Pakistan’s election commission on Monday rejected a resolution passed by the Senate earlier this month seeking a delay in the February 8 general election, stating that all arrangements have been completed and it won’t be “advisable” to put off the planned polls.
On January 5, the upper House of Parliament passed a non-binding resolution seeking a delay in the general election, citing cold weather and security concerns, increasing the political uncertainty in the country.
The resolution, tabled by independent Senator Dilawar Khan, received overwhelming support in the Senate but was slammed as “unconstitutional” by major political parties. It was passed with only 14 lawmakers out of the Senate’s 100 members in attendance. In the statement on Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that it deliberated on the resolution and observed that caretaker federal and provincial governments had been issued directions for “beefing up security matrix” and providing a “congenial environment to the electorate” for peaceful elections.
The top electoral body said it had made all the necessary arrangements regarding the conduct of general elections, adding that it had also submitted a commitment to the Supreme Court to hold elections on February 8, 2024, the Dawn newspaper reported.
“Likewise, It would not be out of place to mention here that in the past, general elections and local government elections have been held in (the) winter season,” it said.
The letter said that it would not be “advisable” for the ECP to postpone general elections “at this stage”, according to the report.