Senate passes resolution seeking delay in elections

The Upper House of the Parliament on Friday passed a resolution seeking a delay in the general elections by a majority vote.

The resolution was tabled by Senator Dilawar Khan, who cited cold weather and security issues as reasons behind seeking the delay.

The development comes with just a little over a month left in the general elections scheduled for February 8.

A conducive environment is required for the conduct of elections, the resolution emphasised, mentioning that the situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is deteriorating, with attacks on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and National Democratic Movement (NDM) chairman Mohsin Dawar.

Aimal Wali Khan of Awami National Party (ANP) and others have also received threats, it added.

The resolution stated that anti-terrorism operations are ongoing in KP and Balochistan, and the health department is also on high alert fearing spread of the coronavirus. It suggested that conducive environment be provided to run election campaigns across the country.

The Senate approved the resolution with a majority vote, while PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah and Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi opposed it.

Reacting to the resolution, former finance minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Taimur Khan Jhagra termed it “shocking and disgraceful”.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator Taj Haider condemned the resolution presented in the Senate.

“The resolution passed in the Senate is a conspiracy against democracy,” he was quoted as saying in a post on X by the official account of PPP.

Haider strongly criticised the Senate chairman for playing a “conspiratorial role” in the passing of the said resolution.

The resolution presented in the Senate was not included in the agenda, according to the PPP senator.

Speaking to a press conference later during the day, PPP senator Sherry Rehman said her party did not support the resolution. “The resolution is not a law and the elections should be held on time,” she stressed.

Only 14 members of the Upper House were present at the time the resolution was passed, Sherry Rehman said.