KP, Punjab governors refuse to fix dates for polls
ISLAMABAD:THE governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have refused to set the date for elections to the two provincial assemblies, dissolved by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) may do so.
Thus, a major political wrangling has ensued over who will set the election date.
The two provincial governors informed the ECP through separate leters that it should itself give dates for elections, in consultation with all stakeholders while keeping in view the prevailing security and economic conditions of the country.
KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali advised the ECP to “consult and take into confidence” political parties and law-enforcement agencies (LEAS) before fixing a date for the polls.
“In view of the alarming law and order situation in the province and series of terrorist atacks during the past days, it would be advisable that before fixing a date for the general elections, the ECP should consult and take into confidence the relevant institutions/leas as well as political parties, to ensure conduct of general elections in a fair, free and peaceful manner in the province,” said Ali in a leter he sent to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja ater a deadly suicide bombing in Peshawar that claimed over 100 lives.
Officials said the ECP had proposed the date of April 9 to 13 for the Punjab Assembly elections, and asked the governor to announce a proposed date, while for KP provincial assembly election, it had proposed the dates between April 14 and 17.
The ECP had sent the mater to the provincial governors.
Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman also refused to give the date for election in Punjab and asked the ECP to consult all stakeholders for reaching consensus on a date ater considering the prevailing security and economic conditions in the country.
Meanwhile, the ECP appointed District Returning
Officer (DROS), Returning Officers (ROS) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROS) for conducting bye-elections in 33 constituencies of National Assembly on March 16, according to a notification.
District Election Commissioner, Swat, Farid Ullah, Election Officer Strong Room, Malakand, Muhammad Arif and Assistant Commissioner, Mata, Swat, Abdul Qayum, SDEO (Male), Mata, Swat Nazar Ul Islam have been appointed as District Returning Officer (DRO), Returning Officer (RO) and Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) respectively for conducting NA 04, SWAT-III bye elections.