ECP to make final decision on Punjab, KP elections tomorrow

• ECP will hold a final meeting to review the situation
• The stakeholders have refused cooperation on conducting polls
• ECP is considering the approach the Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is likely to approach the Supreme Court after stakeholders refused to cooperate in conducting elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The election commission held an hours-long meeting on Monday to review the briefings by different stakeholders in conducting the provincial elections. The meeting has been called again at 11 AM tomorrow (Tuesday) to further discuss the situation before a final decision is made.

During the hours-long meeting, the election commission held a detailed review of the consultation with all the stakeholders. Sources revealed that the stakeholders have refused to cooperate with the election commission in conducting the polls.

The election commission is considering approaching the Supreme Court in conducting the polls. The meeting also proposed issuing orders to all institutions under Article 220. The Election Commission will take the final decision regarding the elections tomorrow.

The ECP has held important meetings with different stakeholders after announcing the election schedule as per directives of the Supreme Court.

During a meeting last week, the Ministry of Defence told the ECP that the Pakistan Army will not be available for election duty this year, noting that the security of the borders and the country was the army’s “first priority”.

Defence Secretary Lt General (retd) Hamood-Uz-Zaman Khan and Additional Defence Secretary Major General Khurram Sarfaraz Khan briefed the commission about the current situation of the country.

The officials briefed about the situation on the borders and the deployment of the army in the country, along with the overall law and order situation.

They clarified that if the army is assigned election duty, troops would be deployed in quick response (QRF) mode and static deployment of troops would not be possible.

In the first meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Punjab Inspector-General Usman Anwar briefed about the security concerns and economic problems in the province.

He said police deployment is not only limited to election duties but preventing crime and providing security. He said police will be deployed to protect mosques and worshipers during the month of Ramazan.

The chief secretary said that 40,000 teachers are currently on census duty and followed by matriculation exams. He said staff is also needed for purchasing wheat.

The officials maintained foolproof security cannot be provided in the April 30 election until other law enforcers, including the Pakistan Army, are deployed to assist the police.

In the second meeting of the ECP, the KP governor informed the commission in detail about the law and order situation in KP and the problems of the merged districts (FATA).

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