Independent Senator Hidayatullah presented a new resolution on Friday calling for the postponement of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider delaying the polls by three months.
The resolution was formally submitted to the Senate Secretariat by Hidayatullah, representing the Independent Parliamentary Group.
Senator Hidayatullah’s resolution also highlights the recent surge in violent attacks within the country, along with an increase in incidents targeting election candidates.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday requested a senate session to ensure that general elections, scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024, proceed in a timely fashion, The News has reported.
PTI senator Ali Zafar took signatures of senate members on a requisition to conduct a session to discuss the matter of holding elections on time. PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami supported the initiative.
According to the requisition, Pakistan can’t afford political instability. To strengthen democracy, polls should be conducted on time.
On January 5, the sparsely attended senate passed a resolution in favour of a postponement of the general elections.
Majority of the lawmakers present in the legislature had approved the resolution — seeking polls delay in the light of extreme weather in hilly areas and deteriorating security situation — moved by independent lawmaker Senator Dilawar Khan.
Only 14 senate members were present on the day when the resolution passed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnanullah Khan and caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi had opposed the resolution, while PPP’s Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi and PTI’s Senator Gurdeep Singh remained silent.
Senator Dilawar had also said that COVID-19 is still present, so elections should be postponed.