ECP postpones Punjab elections to October 8

The general elections in Punjab that were supposed to take place on April 30 have been postponed by the Pakistani Election Commission due to the recent wave of terrorist attacks across the nation.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued a notification in this regard. It stated that the commission had used Article 218(3), as well as Sections 58 and 8(c) of the Elections Act of 2017.

The Punjab Assembly elections will now be held on October 8, according to the notification, and a new schedule will be issued for the polls.

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In its notification, the election organising authority cited its responsibility to ensure fair elections in the country and recounted its various efforts to ensure that the commission carried out its responsibilities diligently.

According to the notification, in order to organise and conduct the election in accordance with the law and in a peaceful manner, the commission had written letters to the ministries of interior and defence requesting the “deployment of Pakistan Army/Rangers and Frontier Corps at all polling stations” established for the conduct of the general election to the Punjab Provincial Assembly in static mode.

This was done in light of the province’s increased security and the country’s recent terrorist wave, according to the statement.

However, the Punjab Chief Secretary and Inspector General (IG) informed stakeholders in a meeting of the province’s and country’s serious law and order situation, citing various incidents.

According to the notification, there is a security personnel shortfall of approximately 386,623 for deputation on election duty, which can only be covered by deploying army soldiers and Rangers in static mode.

However, in a letter to the commission, the Ministry of Interior stated that the deployment of civil and armed forces as required by the election commission would be impossible.

The ministry also attributed it to an increase in terror incidents throughout the country, where the armed forces are deployed on borders, internal security duties, and so on. Threat alerts had also been issued by intelligence agencies and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta).

“As a result, in their opinion, holding general elections in the province of Punjab Assembly on the already announced date is not feasible,” the ECP stated.

The electoral authority contacted the interior and finance ministries for a meeting on March 9, where the special secretary of interior stated that “free, fair, and peaceful elections are not possible due to deteriorating law and order situation, charged political environment, and serious threats to political leaders.”

“This will also expose the public and leaders to an increased risk of terrorism,” he said.

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The finance secretary cited a lack of funds and the ongoing financial crisis as reasons for the election funding shortfall.

The notification also claimed that several senior-level security officials, including the police chief and the defence minister, as well as the federal government, had recommended postponing the elections.

“Therefore, in the exercise of the powers vested in it… the commission hereby withdraws the election programme issued pursuant to Notification No. F. 2(3)/2023/Cord dated 8th March 2023, and a new schedule will be issued in due course with the poll date on 8th October 2023.”

“The office is directed to take appropriate follow-up action and to notify the President of Pakistan,” the notification concluded.