The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has called for a high-level meeting today (Thursday) to address the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan ahead of the Feb 8 elections, raising concerns that the polls in these provinces might be delayed.
Simultaneously, the military leadership has declared a policy of zero tolerance for political violence, ensuring that elections will not be sabotaged.
These developments follow a period of heightened tensions and escalating violence, including the murder of an election candidate in Bajaur, resulting in the postponement of elections in two constituencies in the district, and the death of another political worker in Chaman on Wednesday. Various armed and grenade attacks were reported in Balochistan, including an incident targeting the home of Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, a former provincial minister and PPP candidate for the provincial assembly from Kech district.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ECP stated, “Keeping in view the deteriorating law and order situation, the ECP has convened a meeting on Thursday where the Interior Minister, Secretary Interior, Chief Secretaries, and Inspectors General of KP and Balochistan, along with representatives of intelligence agencies, have been invited.”
The ECP spokesperson also noted that the commission had taken notice of a firing incident on a political party’s caravan, resulting in a fatality, and a grenade attack outside the residence of Mr. Buledi, a candidate from PB-25 in Kech district.
While the ECP initially dismissed calls to postpone general elections over security concerns, there are growing speculations that the commission may be considering the possibility of delaying polls in KP and Balochistan.
A senior ECP official mentioned that the commission was troubled by an increase in terrorist incidents, emphasizing that the provincial governments were responsible for maintaining law and order. The purpose of the meeting was to urge them to enhance security measures. Although no provincial government has formally requested a delay in elections, the official acknowledged the possibility of postponing polls in certain high-disturbance constituencies if the situation warranted.
On another front, the ECP faces a crucial challenge in securing sufficient special security paper for potential reprints of ballot papers in specific constituencies. The unavailability of security paper could lead to the postponement of elections in those constituencies, according to discussions in a meeting on Wednesday.
In a separate development, the military leadership, in a firm statement issued after the corps commanders conference, declared a zero-tolerance stance against any acts of political violence during the upcoming national elections. They emphasized that deployed troops would perform election duties in accordance with the constitutional mandate and the guidelines of the ECP.
As the country prepares for elections, the statement comes amid heightened tensions and the potential for unrest, exacerbated by legal and political challenges facing key stakeholders, casting doubt on the integrity of the upcoming polls. The commanders emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with all states while asserting that there would be no compromise on sovereignty, national honor, and the aspirations of the Pakistani people.
The commanders were also briefed on the Indian campaign of “extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings” in Pakistan.
In the aftermath of the killing of independent candidate Rehan Zeb Khan and the injuries to three workers in an attack on Wednesday, elections in NA-8 and PK-22 constituencies of Bajaur district were postponed.
Mr. Khan, a dissident of the PTI who was denied the party ticket, was participating in the elections against a rival PTI candidate. The attack occurred around 2 pm while he was campaigning with a group of supporters at the main chowk of Sadiqabad Bazaar in Khar tehsil.
Assailants, armed with rifles, opened fire on them, injuring Mr. Khan and three others. They were quickly taken to the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital in Khar, but unfortunately, 32-year-old Mr. Khan succumbed to his injuries in the hospital’s emergency department. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and leg.
The SHO of Khar Police Station, Rasheed Khan, confirmed the incident, and Israr Khan, another police official, identified the wounded workers as Sultan Room, Talha Yousaf, and Fazl Ameen.
DPO Kashif Zulfiqar told the media that the incident appeared to be a “targeted killing.”
Rehan Zeb Khan was contesting as an independent candidate from NA-8, the sole National Assembly seat in Bajaur, and PK-22. His main rivals were former PTI lawmakers Gul Zafar Khan (NA-8) and Gul Dad Khan (PK-22).
PTI workers, activists, and local leaders from various political and religious parties strongly condemned Mr. Khan’s killing, urging the prompt arrest of those responsible for the attack.
Caretaker Chief Minister of KP, Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, took notice of Mr. Khan’s killing and directed the provincial police chief to submit an inquiry report within two days.
In Balochistan, a leader of a political party was killed, and eight others, including political workers and two security officials, were injured in separate attacks at election offices and residences of political party candidates on Wednesday.
Authorities reported that Zahoor Ahmed, a local Awami National Party (ANP) leader, was killed when armed assailants opened fire at the election office of party candidate Engineer Zamrak Khan Piralizai in the Mazaiadha area of Chaman, a district bordering Afghanistan.
They stated that the incident occurred following a dispute between two factions over the hoisting of party flags, which escalated. Mr. Ahmed sustained multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Another party worker, Moin, was injured in the gunfire, as confirmed by a senior Levies official.
In a separate occurrence, unidentified individuals targeted the residence of a former provincial minister and PPP candidate for the provincial assembly from Kech district, Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, with a hand grenade in his hometown of Buleda.
“Two grenades thrown at Mr. Buledi’s residence exploded in the courtyard of the house,” reported the police, noting that there were no reported casualties in the attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army, a banned group, claimed responsibility for the assault.
Mr. Buledi, in a statement, condemned the attack and asserted that he and his family would not be intimidated by such incidents.
In another incident, five PPP workers sustained injuries when unidentified motorcyclists threw a grenade at the election office of Mir Ali Madad Jattak, a former president of PPP’s Balochistan chapter, who is running for a provincial assembly seat in the Ghahi Chowk area of Sariab.
Mr Jattak, who was present in the election office, remained unhurt. The injured party workers were identified as Ghulam Ullah, Nasarullah, Muhammad Javed, Abdul Latif and Obaidullah.
In another incident, a Levies official was critically injured in Khuzdar when unidentified individuals attacked the Levies patrolling vehicle with hand grenades in the Khatan area of Khuzdar late evening.
Another explosion took place in front of the residence of PPP’s provincial assembly candidate Shakeel Durrani in Khuzdar. However, no casualty was reported in the incident.
A police constable was injured in a grenade attack on a police picket in the Josak area of Turbat town late in the evening.
In Sibi, a man lobbed a grenade at a police checkpoint, slightly damaging the post. However, no one was hurt in the attack.
Behram Baloch in Gwadar, and Abdul Wahid Shahwani in Khuzdar also contributed to this report
