ISLAMABAD: Despite Supreme Court decisions, relevant parties seem unwilling to work with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). SC asked stakeholders to cooperate with ECP on general elections to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies.
In a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, Finance Division officials repeated their claims of a financial crisis. While, interior ministry officials told the ECP of a police and civil armed forces shortfall.
Sources stated Rs20 billion was needed for the Punjab and KP elections, but just Rs5bn had been provided. They estimated Rs65bn for national elections.
The finance secretary stated the country was in an extraordinary economic crisis throughout the meeting.
The commission countered that general elections were lawful and cited the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. . ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan told the gathering that 297,000 Punjabi and 56,000 KP security officers will be needed.
The commission instructed the interior secretary to request force from the army, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies.
ECP officials will meet with the IB, ISI, and CTDs of the two provinces today (Friday), as well as Ministry of Defence and Directorate General of Military Operations officials to finalise arrangements.
The inspectors general of police and chief secretaries of the two provinces will meet with ECP next week.
PTI leader meets CEC
Meanwhile, a PTI team led by Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi met CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja at the ECP Secretariat to express its disapproval of Punjab’s interim chief minister’s “illegal steps.”
Following the election schedule announcement, the delegation questioned Section 144 in Lahore.
The PTI delegation demanded fairness in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly elections.
The commission informed the team that the caretaker chief minister will discuss electoral rallies. The ECP also promised to level the playing pitch.
The PTI team also requested the ECP to again contact the judiciary for judicial officers to serve as district returning officers and returning officers to boost political party and voter confidence in the poll process. .
Mr. Qureshi said PTI Chairman Imran Khan had ordered the PTI team to ask the ECP to hold fair, free, and credible elections in the country. The PTI chairman will be informed about today’s pleasant meeting. “I’m satisfied,” he said.
