[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Election Commission has set October 8 as the date for elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The ECP communicated its decision in a notification dated March 27, which The Express Tribune obtained.
“In pursuance of [the] dissolution of [the] Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on 18th January 2023, order dated 1st March 2023 passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Suo Motu Case No. [1] of 2023, Constitution[al] Petition No. [1] & 2 of 2023 and appointment of … date for the conduct of general elections to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by the Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as 8th October, 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan hereby notifies 8th October, 2023 as [the] poll[s] date for the General Elections to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” it read.”In due course, the Election Programme for election[s] under Section 57(2) of the Elections Act, 2017 will be issued,” it added.
K-P Governor Haji Ghulam Ali proposed the same date for elections in his province on Friday.
He fixed the date for the K-P Assembly election in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
Also Read: ECP postpones Punjab elections to October 8
The governor also mentioned the province’s deteriorating law and order situation.
The ECP postponed the election in Punjab until October 8 because it could not hold transparent and peaceful polls on the scheduled date of April 30.
The ECP stated in an eight-page order that it could not hold elections in Punjab “honestly, justly, and fairly in a peaceful manner due to security threats [and] a lack of funds,” as well as provide a “level playing field” to all political parties.
However, the PTI, which had dissolved its governments in both provinces in order to increase pressure on the ruling coalition to call early elections, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the ECP’s decision.
The party maintained that the ECP’s action “violates both the Constitution and the apex court order.”
According to the PTI petition, the party approached the Supreme Court because “the matter involved in the petition is of public importance with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights of millions of Pakistanis, particularly the people of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.”
The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, had stated the day before that the ECP had no right to postpone the Punjab Assembly elections.
Also Read: Govt praises ECPs’ decision to postpone Punjab elections.
The case was heard by a five-member larger bench led by CJP Bandial and comprised of Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Aminuddin Khan, and Jamal Khan Mandokhail.
The PTI is expected to challenge the ECP’s decision to hold elections in K-P in the Supreme Court as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
