The challenging geographical terrain of Balochistan, characterized by scattered populations in remote villages amidst mountains, adds complexity to the security situation….reports Asian Lite News
Two petitions seeking the postponement of the general elections in Pakistan scheduled for February 8 have been presented to the election commission. Both petitions, originating from individuals in the troubled Balochistan province, cite escalating terror threats and adverse weather conditions as compelling reasons for the deferment of the elections, as reported by the Dawn newspaper.
Meena Majeed, a general councillor from Mand tehsil in the Kech district, filed one of the petitions through Advocate Fatima Nazar. The plea emphasized the heightened security concerns in Balochistan, particularly in the Makran division, which has experienced a surge in terrorist activities. These activities range from targeted killings of daily wage earners to alarming incidents such as IED blasts and women suicide bombings. The impact has been most severe in districts like Kech and Gwadar, where 61 acts of terrorism in the last three months alone claimed 32 lives.
The challenging geographical terrain of Balochistan, characterized by scattered populations in remote villages amidst mountains, adds complexity to the security situation. The petition argues that this, 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.
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The petitioner urges the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to accept the petition, proposing the postponement of polling in Kech and the announcement of a fresh, suitable schedule for elections within the district. This, according to the petitioner, would enable people to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the interest of justice.
The second petition, filed by Toor Gul Khan Jogezai from the Kila Saifullah Khan district through Advocate Azizullah Kakakhel, highlights the heavy snowfall in various districts during winter. This snowfall disrupts the daily routine of residents, making it challenging to hold elections in such areas. The petition suggests postponing the elections to a more suitable time, ensuring citizens in these areas can participate in a free and fair election and elect representatives according to their constituency of choice.
Interestingly, the Election Commission of Pakistan has already dismissed reports of election delays and non-preparation of electoral rolls. ECP spokesperson Haroon Shinwari labeled these reports as “absolutely baseless and misleading” and announced the commission’s decision to take legal action against those spreading such “misleading” news. The spokesperson emphasized that the printing of updated electoral rolls is underway at Nadra offices, and the transportation of lists to different districts has commenced in preparation for the upcoming general polls.
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