Islamabad:
The country’s polling authority has postponed by elections at nine different National Assembly and Punjab Assembly Circuits in view of flooding. Most of these seats had fallen vacancies after the conviction of PTI legislators in May 9, and their subsequent de-part.
According to an official review issued Thursday, ECP postponed by election of NA-66 Wazirabad, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore, NA-143 Sahiwal, PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 FAISALABAD and PP-2010 Sahiwal.
It said the voting body would advertise new dates for the choice “When the situation improves”. The election was previously scheduled for September 18 and October 5.
The statement said that an ECP meeting was held on Thursday to review a request from the provincial government and the recurring officers of the districts to suspend the polls. Pollens Body later accepted the request “In the Public Interest”.
The ECP cited the widespread destruction of roads, bridges, rail lines, electric poles and cellular towers, as well as damage to government buildings and schools designated as electoral places and storage sites for electoral materials, such as grounds for exposure.
“The ongoing rescue and relief operations in flooded areas have stretched civil administration and law enforcement authorities to their borders. Voting staff, many of whom are government employees currently dealing with relief efforts, are not available to perform election tasks,” said it.
According to the statement, several district -touring officers informed the Commission of the lack of availability of the appointed election staff. They requested the appointment of fresh staff from the nearby districts.
However, the scale of the disaster has made it difficult to organize the election as planned, it says.
It said the Punjab government also formally requested the postponement, referring to the “broken flood situation” and commitment to civil administration in rescue and relief operations as the main reasons for the request.
The ECP emphasized its constitutional obligation to hold elections under safe and reasonable conditions, noting that making elections in the midst of such disturbances would “free voters” and undermine the safety and integrity of the vote.
“The decision to postpone the election is in general interest,” ECP said. “Voting resumes when the situation is stabilized to ensure that elections are made with optimal security and full electoral participation.”
At least 46 people have died, and more than 3.7 million affected as heavy monsoon rain and water releases from India aggravate floods in Punjab. Nearly 1.8 million people have been evacuated in recent weeks after flooding water immersed nearly 3,900 villages.
