ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has said the electoral body is “fully prepared” for elections on February 8, a statement said on Thursday.
According to a statement released after a high-level meeting called by the Election Commission of Pakistan to overview the security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the CEC said elements disrupting the law and order situation will be firmly dealt with by law enforcement agencies.
“In this connection, no leniency will be shown to anyone,” Sikandar Sultan Raja was cited as saying in the statement, a copy of which is available with WENEWS.
During the high level meeting, which was attended by top officials and the caretaker interior minister among others, the Chief Election Commissioner raised concerns over recent attacks on election offices and rallies in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan: ECP ‘Fully Prepared’ for Feb 8 Polls: CEC
The Chief Election Commissioner also clarified that the electoral process will not stop despite these security issues and challenges. “Elections will be held on time and there should be no doubts on that,” the Election Commission of Pakistan statement added.
After the meeting, Pakistan’s Caretaker Interior Minister, Dr Gohar Ejaz said that the General Elections would be conducted on February 8 as per the schedule, saying that the government will ensure all possible security arrangements for conducting free, fair, and peaceful elections in the South Asian country.
“Elections will be conducted on February 8; no one should have any confusion on this,” the minister told the media following the meeting.
Earlier, Pakistan’s caretaker Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi said that general elections would be held as per schedule. Addressing a seminar in Karachi, the Minister said the caretaker government was prepared to hold the upcoming general elections in the country.
He further said that political parties clamouring for a level playing field should also ensure democracy within their ranks.
