In Islamabad, a majority vote passed a resolution to delay the general elections in the Senate. Senator Dilawar Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) proposed this resolution citing concerns about the country’s law and order situation, advocating for the postponement of the February 8 elections.
During the Senate session with 12 members present, Senator Afnanullah from the Muslim League-N opposed the resolution, while the People’s Party supported it. Notably, PTI’s Gardeeb Singh also lent support to the resolution. Senator Afnanullah highlighted that even during the Second World War, the electoral process continued, questioning the decision to delay elections now without doing so in 2013 and 2018.
The resolution outlined various reasons for postponement, including harsh weather conditions in parts of Balochistan in January and February, recent attacks on leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Mohsin Dawar, widespread threats to many leaders, and the Senate’s responsibility to safeguard the federation’s rights. It stressed the need for a conducive environment for fair elections, mentioning ongoing terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as well as concerns from the health department about a potential resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it called for equal opportunities for election campaigning in smaller provinces and urged the Election Commission to suspend and reschedule the elections for a more favorable environment.
