In the meeting of Election Commission, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that the government is facing a financial deficit of 19 billion while it will need about 1.6 billion for the provincial assembly elections.
The important meeting of the Election Commission was held under the chairmanship of the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, in which the members and secretary, chief secretary and IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other officers participated.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja emphasized on the transparency of the elections and said that the peaceful conduct of the elections is very important so that the aspirants and voters can exercise their right to vote without fear.
The Chief Election Commissioner said that this is the reason why Chief Secretary and IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been invited in this important meeting today to brief them about ideal security of voters and staff.
Briefing the participants, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that the provincial government is facing a financial deficit of 19 billion, while about 1.6 billion more will be required for the provincial assembly elections.
Press release – Meeting with KP government in connection with General Elections in KP. #ECP pic.twitter.com/uh2pRE32DN
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) March 17, 2023
The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that it is difficult for the provincial government to meet such huge expenses, while the expenses of the Election Commission for conducting the election will be in addition to this.
He said that the law and order situation of the province is disturbed and the police is facing a shortage of 56,000 personnel to conduct the elections. Therefore, a peaceful election cannot be guaranteed in the province.
He further said that the deployment of Pakistan Army and FC personnel during the elections is very important because the police alone cannot control law and order during the elections.
IG Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the participants of the meeting that terrorist groups are involved in terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Badakhshan province of Afghanistan and other areas.
He said that last year there were 495 incidents of terrorism in the province, while in 2023, 118 incidents of terrorism have taken place in which 100 people were martyred and 275 people were injured.
The Action Commission officials said that they are aware of the problems of the provincial government, but the peaceful and timely conduct of the election is also the constitutional and legal responsibility of the Election Commission. Provincial government briefing is very important.
Chief Secretary and IG Pakhto Nakhwa, Election Commission said that conducting the election is indeed a constitutional responsibility, but conducting a peaceful and transparent election is also a constitutional responsibility, which will be a difficult task in these circumstances.
According to Election Commission officials, consultations with the Ministry of Finance, Interior, Defense, Intelligence Agencies, Chief Secretary and IG Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been completed and the commission will take a suitable decision soon.
On the other hand, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali has not given the official date of the elections in the province to the Election Commission.
The Election Commission consulted the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa twice for the date of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly elections and after the last meeting in Islamabad, the governor announced the date of May 28.
In his letter to the Election Commission, the governor mentioned the security concerns of the caretaker provincial government and the seriousness of the law and order situation for holding free and fair general elections in the province.
The leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaf termed the failure of the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to give the election date as unconstitutional and said that they have contacted the lawyers again and are applying in the High Court.