Eight days before the scheduled polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened a meeting on February 1 to address the escalating law and order challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. The gathering will include the interior minister, interior secretary, chief secretaries of Balochistan and KP, provincial police chiefs, and representatives from intelligence agencies. The meeting is set to commence at 3 pm.
This move comes in the wake of recent incidents, notably the fatal shooting of Rehan Zeb Khan, a candidate affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in Bajaur, KP. According to the police, Khan was attacked while campaigning in the area, with unidentified armed assailants opening fire on his vehicle. Additionally, two separate terror incidents were reported in Balochistan on the same day. In Quetta, a grenade attack on the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) election office resulted in five injuries, while a worker from the Awami National Party lost his life during a party rally in Chaman.
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— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) January 31, 2024
The preceding day witnessed a bomb blast at a PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibi, resulting in four fatalities and six injuries. Earlier in January, an armed attack targeted the convoy of former Member of the National Assembly Mohsin Dawar in KP’s North Waziristan. Similarly, a roadside bomb narrowly missed JUI-F’s Qari Khairullah in Bajaur.
Violence will not be tolerated: ISPR
Meanwhile, the military, through the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), has emphasized its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections. During the 262nd Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir asserted that no one would be permitted to use violence in the name of political activities. The military affirmed its dedication to supporting the ECP in maintaining a peaceful electoral process, with troops deployed as necessary.
More to read:19 killed in Pakistan terror attacks
The ISPR press release also conveyed the military’s determination to counteract terrorism and external forces attempting to destabilize Pakistan. The participants at the conference were briefed on India’s alleged campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings and state-sponsored terrorism. The military expressed its commitment to upholding Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning any compromise on national honor and the aspirations of the people.