-KP Governor suggests May 28 as date for elections in the Province
-Polls for Punjab Assembly is scheduled for April 30
-Earlier President advised Governor KP to implement Supreme Court’s order on poll date
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was informed on Tuesday that the Pakistan Army will not be available for poll-related duties due to the prevalent security situation within the country and on the borders.
Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country. Since the talks with the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan broke down in November, the militant group has intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas bordering Afghanistan.
Separately, provincial elections for the Punjab Assembly are scheduled for April 30 while KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali said earlier in the day that he has suggested May 28 as the election date in the province.
A press release issued from the electoral body said that three important meetings were held today under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The press release said that in the third meeting, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Hamood Uz Zaman Khan and Additional Secretary Maj Gen Khurram Sarfraz Khan briefed the CEC and ECP officials on the country’s prevalent situation and the military’s deployment within Pakistan and on its borders. “They said that the army attaches importance to its basic duties, in which the security of the borders and the country is its first priority. They said that the army is not available for election duty at this time due to the present situation in the country,” the press release reads.
The defence ministry officials said that the current economic situation of the country was also affecting the army.
However, they added that in the end it would be the government’s decision whether it kept the military restricted to its primary duties or appointed it for secondary tasks such as election-related duties.
“They also clarified that in case of election duty, the army can be deployed in quick reaction force mode but it is not possible to perform duty in static mode,” the press release reads. Earlier, President Dr Arif Alvi in a meeting with Governor of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali on Tuesday advised him to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the holding of general election in the province.
The president mentioned that the apex court had directed that the Governor of KP must, after consultation with the Election Commission, forthwith appoint a date for the holding of the general election to the KP Assembly to avoid any complications as almost a period of two weeks had already passed by.
The meeting was held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr at the invitation of President Alvi, according to the President’s Office.
The matter of election was discussed in light of Article 224 (2) of the Constitution of Pakistan and the order of the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) dated March 1, 2023.
The president emphasized the need for upholding the Constitution and holding general elections within the given time period. He said the election had been mandated by the Constitution, further affirmed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and was essential for strengthening parliamentary democracy in the country.
