The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has categorically said the by-elections will be held in all 42 constituencies and there is no chance of postponement in any constituency, neither due to the floods nor due to any threat of terrorism.
ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan made the announcement after a meeting of the ECP under the acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tassaduq Jilani. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, provincial election commissioners, chief secretaries of three provinces and the home secretary of Balochistan, as well as the NDMA chairman and Meteorological Department DG were present.
Khan said the commission took into consideration the situation in Jhal Magsi‚ where four polling stations were situated in flood areas. Similarly‚ intelligence reports had warned of terror threats in Dera Ismail Khan. However‚ the commission decided that elections would be held in both areas according to the schedule.
The secretary said of the 7‚606 polling stations‚ 3,080 had been classified as normal‚ 2,686 sensitive and 1‚840 highly sensitive.
Khan said the commission had decided to deploy troops outside all polling stations. “However‚ the troops will be deployed inside as well as outside the highly sensitive polling stations,” he added.
He said the army had also helped the ECP conduct general elections on May 11, adding that there was a consensus among the four provinces that the army’s assistance would not be needed in the next 100 hours for flood relief activities and the troops should focus on the by-elections of August 22.
He said the Sindh government had requested for deployment of the army at all polling stations but it had been decided that army would be deployed only at sensitive and most sensitive polling stations in Sindh as well.
The ECP secretary said the commission had decided to extend the powers of first class magistrates to the commanding army officers deployed at the polling stations.
Earlier, during the meeting, the acting chief election commissioner said credible elections were instrumental in strengthening democracy and stability of any country, adding that the prosperity of its people depended on a truly representative government, elected through free, fair and genuine elections.
Justice Jilani said the ECP did not have an elaborate administrative machinery to carry out such a gigantic task. “However, our strength lies in Article 220 of the constitution which mandates “It shall be the duty of all executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces, including the army to assist the commissioner and commission in the discharge of his or their functions.”
He said the more effective the elections, the better the chances for democracy to flourish.
“In order to ensure that the by-elections on August 22 are held in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent manner, we need to take all necessary steps which help us to ensure that bye-elections are as secure, impartial and transparent as possible.”