Pak EC receives petitions urging postponement of polls on Feb 8

Two separate petitions seeking the postponement of general elections in Pakistan on February 8 landed before the election commission, citing growing terror threats and inclement weather. The petitions, filed by individuals hailing from the restive Balochistan province, cited security issues and snowfall in several districts as reasons to seek the postponement of elections, the Dawn newspaper reported.
“Specifically, the Mek-ran division has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities, ranging from target killings of innocent daily wage earners to alarming incidents such as IED blasts and women suicide bombing,” it stated.
The impact was most pronounced in districts such as Kech and Gwadar, where 61 acts of terrorism during the last three months alone claimed 32 lives, it read.
According to the plea, the challenging geographical terrain of Balochistan, characterised by scattered populations residing in far-flung villages amidst mountains adds to the complexity
“This topography coupled with inadequate road infrastructure and poor connectivity presents a formidable obstacle to implementing effective security measures and ensuring the feasibility of free and fair elections”, it added.
The petitioner urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to accept the instant petition, postpone polling in Kech and announce a fresh suitable and appropriate schedule for election within district Kech, enabling the people to exercise their constitutional right to cast a vote, in the interest of justice.
The other petition, filed by Toor Gul Khan Jogezai from district Kila Saifullah Khan through Advocate Azizullah Kakakhel, pointed out that many districts and divisions in the country face heavy snowfall in winter which affects the daily routine of residents. As a result, elections could not be held in such areas, since the inhabitants of these areas were either displaced or limited, until the month of May or the restoration of normal life.