Pakistan’s Senate has passed a non-binding resolution calling for a delay in the upcoming national general elections, originally scheduled for February 8. The resolution was approved in a session attended by only 14 of the 97 senators, with one member voting against it.
The resolution, proposed by independent legislator Dilawar Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sought to postpone the election date due to the “prevailing security conditions” in the country and the ongoing cold weather.
Khan cited concerns about serious threats to the lives of prominent politicians, as conveyed by Pakistan’s interior ministry, and pointed out the increasing number of security incidents, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also mentioned that the harsh winter conditions could hinder political campaigns and potentially affect voter turnout.
The resolution faced opposition from Afnan Ullah of the Muslim League-N, who stood as the only senator voting against the delay. However, the majority of the attending senators, including representatives from the Balochistan Awami Party, FATA, and Behramand Tangi of the People’s Party, supported the resolution.
Senator Afnan Ullah argued that Pakistan has successfully conducted elections in the past under more challenging circumstances, referring to the 2008 and 2013 elections. He warned against using security concerns as a reason for indefinitely postponing the elections.
Caretaker Federal Minister of Information, Murtaza Solangi, also opposed the resolution. Despite this, the resolution was passed by a majority vote, with a recommendation for the Election Commission to consider postponing the elections.