KP Governor Proposes October 8 as Date for Elections
In a letter to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday, Governor Ghulam Ali has proposed delaying elections to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly until October 8, days after electoral body postponed polls in Punjab to same date. “Since ECP has postponed election date for general elections of Punjab province to October 08, 2023, therefore, it is also suggested that same October 08, 2023, be proposed/appointed as election date for general elections of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in best public interest as well as in interest of state,” governor wrote in his letter to Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja. Similar to election commission, Ghulam also cited deteriorating security situation as reason for delay. “Your good office must note that subsequent to my last letter, fresh wave of terrorist activities had taken place in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis,” he added.
Governor told the ECP that surge in terrorist activities, including attacks on army and police stations, had resulted in fatalities and injuries. Attacks have occurred on a daily basis, he said, adding that incidents included cross-border fire in North Waziristan, an IED blast on an army vehicle in Kohat, encounter with terrorists in South Waziristan, terrorists fire on a police station Bara, attack on a police station in DI Khan, and a terrorist ambush resulting in martyrdom of senior Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Burki and injury of seven others.
Governor proposed that provincial elections, originally scheduled for May 28, also be delayed until October 8 as done for Punjab province.