Third resolution seeking delay in elections submitted in Senate

A third resolution demanding postponement of the crucial upcoming general elections was submitted in Senate on Sunday. The resolution, moved by independent Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman from FATA, stated that the party candidates in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are in fear of terrorist attacks during election campaigns. The senator wrote that voters of K-P feel deprived, emphasising that the date of February 8, 2024, is unfavorable for polls. Senator Hilal further added that the K-P province was undergoing harsh weather conditions that have made it difficult for the party candidates to run election campaigns. A total of four resolutions concerning the upcoming elections have made its way to the Senate so far. Three of the resolutions demanded a delay in polls, while a fourth, submitted by the Jamaat-e-Islami, seeks timely elections. The series of resolutions started with Senator Dilawar Khan proposing a resolution, on January 5, gaining support from lawmakers across various political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). Read SC moved against Senate's election postponement resolution Independent senators and those representing the erstwhile Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) also backed the resolution. The concerns outlined in the resolution encompassed the challenging law and order conditions, severe weather in Balochistan, and the ongoing terrorist activities in K-P and Balochistan. However, PML-N Senator Afnanullah vehemently opposed the resolution, highlighting historical instances where elections proceeded even during challenging times, such as World War II and periods of terrorism in 2008, 2013, and 2018. During the initial vote, 13 senators supported the resolution. After the Friday prayers break, Senator Dilawar Khan proposed to suspend the rules and present the resolution again, receiving approval once more. Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, initially absent during the voting, opposed the resolution upon his later presence in the house. Despite the Senate's resolution, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sources insisted that the elections would proceed as scheduled on February 8, emphasizing that only the Supreme Court holds the authority to alter the election timetable. The resolution drew alarms from major political parties, terming it 'an assault on democracy' and move 'akin to surrendering to those who want nation's instability'.

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