Senate Approves Resolution Urging Postponement of February 8 Elections

Senator Dilawar Khan tables resolution; PML-N calls it “boot-polising”; caretaker government opposes move

• Senator Dilawar Khan tables goal.
• PML-N’s Afnan refers to it as “boot-polishing”.
• Caretaker government goes against move.

ISLAMABAD: Senate Friday approved a non-binding resolution seeking a delay in the general elections, set to be staged on February 8, drawing strong criticism from major political parties. 

Senator Dilawar Khan, an independent lawmaker, moved the resolution in the upper house of the parliament, which got the approval during the presence of 14 senators — who were the only lawmakers present in the house of 100.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Gurdeep Singh and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Behramand Tangi abstained from voting. Following the vote, the Senate chairman adjourned the session indefinitely.

The elections are set to occur in 90 days when a gathering is broken up, however the surveys in each of the five administrative are yet to be held and they’ve proactively outperformed their sacred breaking point.

The surveys for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab gatherings — disintegrated in January last year — have not been held for something like a year, while the public, Baluchistan, and Sindh congregations have been stretched past their boundaries too as of now.

With the feelings of dread overflowing of deferrals, a request was moved in the High Court, following which the summit court coordinated the Political Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) and President Arif Alvi to declare a date, which they did: February 8.

Be that as it may, a few political entertainers have been raising worries about the security circumstance as well as the weather patterns. They say that they don’t need a postponement, yet required the redressed of their concerns.

The goal passed today has additionally referred to outrageous climate in sloping regions and the decaying security circumstance, particularly in KP and Balochistan, which have been forced to bear psychological militants.

Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, representing the caretaker government which is appointed to over the country’s affairs till the elections, opposed the move.

Senator Dilawar, chatting on the floor of the house, expressed a large portion of the region in the nation were presently encountering brutal chilly climate, thus, the cooperation of citizens in those areas was unmanageable.

Featuring the rule of peace and law circumstance, the congressperson said assaults were done on Public Popularity based Development pioneer Mohsin Dawar and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) individuals.

Indeed, even security powers were gone after in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added. He said Awami Public Party (ANP) pioneer Aimal Wali additionally had reservations over races.

The congressperson said danger cautions were likewise given by the knowledge organizations during political race rallies.

“The Senate says that races ought not be held without eliminating the obstacles, thusly, the February 8 decisions ought to be delayed,” he said, adding that the ECP ought to start the most common way of deferring the surveys.

He additionally said the Senate confided in the electing body

‘Boot-polishing’

The resolution was opposed by Senator Afnanullah Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Senator Afnanullah criticised the resolution, saying that the security situation in the country was worse at the time of the 2008 and 2013 general elections. Elections would never be held if an excuse for security was made, he added.

He asked if the United Kingdom and the United States deferred the elections during World War II, saying an excuse was being made to delay the polls on the pretext of weather.

Senator Afnanullah compared the mission for deferring decisions to a demonstration of ‘boot-cleaning’.

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Representative Samina Mumtaz Zehri said environmental change was a fairly new peculiarity. She said now the nation was going through an improvement. “We hold our military in high regard,” she added.

Free administrator Representative Kauda Babar said there are portions of the nation, where decisions couldn’t be held due to outrageous atmospheric conditions.

“Are lawmakers the final stragglers to bite the dust,” asked Congressperson Babar. He requested the public authority to come clear on the safety efforts taken for the security of the up-and-comers.

He let the upper house know that his uncle died today and on second thought of lamenting he was bantering in the Senate.

“You can’t simply pass on us to bite the dust. That won’t occur. Who will guarantee security ventures for the individuals who decide to run political race,” Representative Babar said.

He likewise focused on that responsible danger cautions was adequately not and security ought to likewise be given to political decision contenders. “The circumstance in the nation was terrible, the political race contesters were undependable,” he said.

ANP Representative Hidayatullah Khan said his party was not against the races and needed to challenge the surveys. “We maintain that races should be held without spilling of blood,” he said.

Broadening full help for the goal, BAP Representative Ruler Ahmed Umar said their planning was finished. Be that as it may, he said, he was absent to the circumstance in KP and Balochistan.

Another BAP congressperson, Manzoor Kakar, said his party wouldn’t allow the majority to become survivors of psychological oppression.

‘Not hidden’

Speaking to Geo News, Information Minister Solangi said that he wasn’t given a chance by the Senate chairman to present his views on the matter despite requesting him twice.

“I would’ve discussed [the said issue] in detail if he [senate chairman] had given me a chance [to speak],” the minister said.

“The reason for my opposition [to the resolution] is that I cannot speak on my own behalf [but actually] can speak on behalf of the federal cabinet and government,” Solangi noted, while reiterating his opposition to the rather controversial resolution.

Commenting on any change in the poll date, the minister said it was the election commission’s responsibility to announce the election dates, make changes to them, and conduct the polls.

“We cannot interfere with the powers of the constitutional government and any other constitutional body,” he said.

“There are weather and security issues [and] these issues have been there before [as well],” Solangi said while terming the issues raised by Senator Dilawar’s resolution as “real”.

Remarking on whether he has any data relating to survey delay, the pastor said that he hadn’t gotten any sign from any quarters in regards to any defer in the overall decisions.

“Those who don’t want the elections to be held on time are not hidden anymore […] It is not my responsibility to investigate who’s behind all this [resolution],” he concluded.

The resolution’s text

Acknowledging that:

The Constitution of Pakistan upholds the right to vote for every citizen of Pakistan;

The Constitutional duty assigned to the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct free and fair elections is contingent upon inclusivity and ensuring the participation of all regions and people. The voter turnout in colder areas remains notably high during moderate weather conditions;

January and February are recognized as the coldest months in a majority of the areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa;

Various groups and political parties have expressed significant reservations regarding anticipated difficulties in ensuring the participation of residents in cold areas during the electioneering process noting with great concern that;

Recent incidents, including the foiled attempts on the lives of Jarnlat Ulema-e-(JUI-F) Chief Maulana Faziur Rehman and former MNA Mohsin Dawar, as well as threatening calls targeting Awaml National Party’s Provincial Chief Aimal Wali Khan and other political figures, have raised concerns about the safety of political leaders;

The Ministry of Interior has convoyed serious threats to the lives of prominent politicians, further exacerbating the challenges faced by political parties in exercising their right to free and fair election campaigning;

There has been a marked increase in attacks on security forces and citizens claiming precious lives, particularly in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Provinces. The intelligence agencies have warned of militant attack threats on election rallies in the two provinces;

Increase in attacks targeting both security forces and civilians, resulting In the loss of valuable lives, particularly in the northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Provinces;

Alerts issued by intelligence agencies, indicating imminent threats of militant attacks on election rallies within the aforementioned provinces may have potential impact on the safety of citizens and the democratic electoral process;

Cognizant of the resurgence of the Covid-19 virus in the country and health sector’s concerns about potential further spread;

Reaffirms that while holding the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the elections date in the highest esteem for the Upper House of the Parliament, the Senate of Pakistan, being the defender of the rights of all federating units, is obligated to ensure the constitutional guarantees and to alleviate fears of the smaller provinces especially vulnerable geographical territories;

The Senate of Pakistan hereby RESOLVES that;

Conducting elections without addressing legitimate concerns, facilitating sufficient opportunities for election campaigns, and guaranteeing the safety of politicians and citizens would amount to a violation of the fundamental right to vote and political participation, as safeguarded by the Constitution of Pakistan;

The Elections scheduled for 8th February 2024 may be postponed to facilitate the effective participation of people from all areas of Pakistan and belonging to all political shades in the electioneering process. This delay aims to protect and uphold their constitutional right to political participation;

The Election Commission of Pakistan is urged to promptly implement the postponement and ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate the smooth conduct of elections on the revised date;

The process of filing nomination papers and scrutiny shall continue with the revised/extended timelines;

The Election Commission of Pakistan shall engage proactively with relevant stakeholders, political parties, and communities to address their concerns and foster an environment conducive to free and fair elections;

The Senate of Pakistan EXPRESSES confidence in the ability of the Election Commission of Pakistan to effectively manage and oversee the revised election schedule, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the electoral process. 

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