Despite increasing poll-related violence, Pakistan’s acting interior minister Gohar Ejaz on Thursday dispelled all doubts about holding the general elections on the already announced date of February 8.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had summoned a meeting on Thursday to discuss the worsening law and order situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It was attended by the Interior Minister, Secretary of Interior, Chief Secretaries, Inspector Generals of Police from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, along with representatives from intelligence agencies.
Ejaz, the acting interior minister, while briefly talking to the media after the security meeting, said that after the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, “There should not be any doubt about elections. No matter what happens.” Reportedly, there has been a surge in attacks on political rallies, offices and candidates, alongside terror incidents, particularly in these two provinces for the last few weeks.
Rehan Zeb Khan, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) youth activist and an independent candidate contesting for the National Assembly seat from Bajaur, NA-8, was shot down by unidentified armed assailants, who opened fire on him in his hometown Bajaur on Wednesday.
In the wake of his murder, the ECP directed the provincial chief secretary and inspector general of police to submit a comprehensive report of the incident, an official said, Geo News reported.
Following the incident, the ECP took notice of such incidents, noting the firing that took place on a convoy of a political party in the Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan in which one person was killed and a grenade attack outside the house of a candidate of PB-25 constituency in Kech district.
Later, the ECP asked for immediate reports from the chief secretary and IG Balochistan and directed for immediate action to be taken against those involved, according to Geo News.
Meanwhile, the ECP also took notice of the bomb attack at the election office of a political party in Quetta and sought an immediate report from the Balochistan chief secretary and inspector general of police.
It further directed for taking action against the people held accountable, under the election laws.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly condemned the attacks on the party’s election office in Quetta, Khuzdar and the residences of candidates in Turbat, according to Geo News.
“ I have just been informed of a 3rd grenade attack on the resident of Agha Shakeel Durrani Pakistan Peoples Party’s PB-19 candidate and former district Mayor Khuzdar, Balochistan. I hope and pray no one is hurt,” Zardari stated on X.
