ISLAMABAD, OCT 11(DNA) — The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rejected the request of the federal government to postpone the scheduled by-elections on Oct 16, 2022.
The ECP held an important meeting to review the appeal of the government to postpone the by-elections at the head office in Islamabad. The channel report said that the ECP has decided in the meeting that the by-elections will not be postponed and be conducted on their due date.
The channel report said that the ECP review meeting was presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner and other officials were also present.\ Members and Secretary of the ECP, secretaries of the Ministry of Interior, Defense, Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh participated in the meeting.
Representatives of security agencies also participated in the meeting and presented their reports in the meeting. Secretary Election Commission briefed the participants of the meeting and informed them that the Commission has completed all the arrangements for the by-elections in 8 National Assembly and 3 Provincial Assembly.
The ECP Secretary further stated that the second phase of municipal elections in all the districts of Karachi Division will also be held on October 23, 2022, as per the schedule. But a by-poll on National Assembly seat NA-45 of Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the law and order situation is not good, and the election will not be announced later, ECP Secretary said.
As per the decision, by-elections will be held on Oct 16 in the constituencies including NA-157 Multan IV, NA-22 Mardan III, NA-24 Charsadda II, NA-31 Peshawar V, NA-108 Faisalabad VIII, NA-118 Nankana Sahib II, NA-237 Malir II, NA-239 Korangi, PP-139 Sheikhupura, PP-241 Bahawalnagar V, and PP-209 Khanewal VII.
In the meeting, the CEC emphasized the importance of peaceful conduct of by-elections and local body elections in the Karachi Division. The ECP has written a letter to the Secretary of Interior and Defense requesting the authorities to deploy static contingents of the Pak Army, Rangers, FC, and Quick Response Force outside the polling stations of the 11 constituencies as the present political atmosphere of the country is politically-charged.
Earlier, it was agreed to deploy Rangers, but according to recent reports, the threat of unrest and violence has increased, said the letter written by the ECP. The ECP also sought to enhance the deployment of Quick Response Force (QRF) and frequent flag marches to cope with any eventuality.
The letter further requested that law enforcement agencies should be instructed to remain vigilant and prevent incidents of violence before or during elections in all constituencies. The letter warns if premature violence was not prevented, the situation could spiral out of control. =DNA
 — The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rejected the request of the federal government to postpone){kind=link}