ISLAMABAD: The Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has requested for postponing the elections for 16 provincial assembly seats in the newly-merged tribal districts due to security threats for 20 days.
After the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the polling for these newly-created seats is scheduled for July 2. And thus, this request for delaying the process is made at a time when the electioneering is in full swing in the region.
The letter said election is breathing life for democratic nations and the people of newly-merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are availing this opportunity for the first time in the constitutional history of Pakistan but the current threats of serious nature from across the border and security issues to the lives of different political leadership is also a reality.
The letter added that due to the fresh merger issue of tribal districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are administrative flaws and weaknesses. Terror waves and other issues in North Waziristan besides change of command in levies and Khasadar force from DCs to DPOs, as well as their poor training for conducting the election duties are some of the ground realities, it said.
The letter requested that the elections may be postponed for 20 days which is within the constitutional limit of 25thJuly, 2019, for holding the elections.
“We are requesting to postpone the election for 20 days to counter the above mentioned reasons and making the foolproof security and administrative arrangements for smooth and safe elections,” the letter said.
After the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the polling for these newly-created seats is scheduled for July 2. And thus, this request for delaying the process is made at a time when the electioneering is in full swing in the region.
The letter said election is breathing life for democratic nations and the people of newly-merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are availing this opportunity for the first time in the constitutional history of Pakistan but the current threats of serious nature from across the border and security issues to the lives of different political leadership is also a reality.
The letter added that due to the fresh merger issue of tribal districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are administrative flaws and weaknesses. Terror waves and other issues in North Waziristan besides change of command in levies and Khasadar force from DCs to DPOs, as well as their poor training for conducting the election duties are some of the ground realities, it said.
The letter requested that the elections may be postponed for 20 days which is within the constitutional limit of 25thJuly, 2019, for holding the elections.
“We are requesting to postpone the election for 20 days to counter the above mentioned reasons and making the foolproof security and administrative arrangements for smooth and safe elections,” the letter said.