Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz affirmed on Thursday that the general elections would proceed as scheduled on February 8, despite concerns about the precarious security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces.
“Elections will be held on February 8, no one should have any confusion on this,” stated the interim minister during a press briefing after a meeting with the electoral body.
Ejaz assured that both the election commission and the caretaker government were committed to ensuring the polls’ conduct on the designated date, regardless of challenges.
A crucial meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took place at its Islamabad headquarters to address the worsening law and order situation in KP and Balochistan just days before the general elections.
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in attacks on political rallies, offices, and candidates, as well as terrorist incidents, particularly in these two provinces.
To provide the ECP with a law and order update, the Inspectors General (IGs) and chief secretaries of both provinces, the caretaker interior minister, Interior Secretary Aftab Durrani, and intelligence officials attended the meeting.
Following the meeting, ECP-affiliated sources reported that the situation was under control, and there were no reservations regarding the conduct of the elections.
Earlier on the same day, multiple explosions were reported in different parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, resulting in at least one person killed and four others injured, according to police.
The province’s situation remained tense after a series of terrorist attacks marred electioneering activities on the previous day. In a separate incident, Rehan Zeb Khan, an independent candidate for NA-8 and a PTI member, was shot dead while canvassing in KP’s Bajaur district.
Furthermore, a bomb attack on the PTI’s election rally in Sibbi claimed four lives on Tuesday. The United States condemned the attack, emphasizing that it “undermines the electoral process.”
The ECP spokesperson stated that the electoral body has sought an immediate report from the chief secretary and Balochistan police chief regarding the multiple explosions in the province.
