KP officials say peace not guaranteed during polls

The chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Inspector General Police have expressed concern about the security of the upcoming provincial assembly elections due to the involvement of terrorists in “Spring Offensive” in the province which is expected to intensify in the province from April to October. Briefing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja Friday, they categorically stated that they cannot give any guarantee about the peace during the upcoming general elections due to bad law and order situation, financial woes and the shortage of 56,000 police personnel. IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highlighted the alarming increase in terror incidents in the region. He revealed that various terrorist groups operating from different provinces in Afghanistan, including Badakhshan, Nuristan, Kantar, Nangarhar, Paktika and others, have been involved in terrorist activities in the province. According to the IGP, the province witnessed a total of 495 terror incidents in the year 2022, while the current year has already seen 118 incidents resulting in 100 fatalities and 275 injuries. The increase in terrorist activities has raised serious concerns about the security situation in the region. He said that the law and order situation was not suitable for elections in several southern provinces, including North Waziristan, Lakki Marvat, Bannu, Tank, and Dera Ismael Khan. Additionally, he told that the situation in the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA was also not conducive to holding elections. The IGP stated that providing security for elections was not a one-day activity and that the police would need to ensure the safety of election gatherings, rallies and political leaders during their campaigns. He added that holding separate provincial and national assembly elections would double the expenditures and increase the dangers for law enforcement agencies. It would also put voters and election staff in danger twice, he added. The provincial Chief Secretary reported that the provincial government was facing a significant pecuniary deficit of Rs 19 billion, with an additional Rs 1.6 billion required for holding provincial assembly elections. The Chief Secretary clarified that these expenses would be in addition to any expenditures incurred by the ECP on the elections. During the meeting, it was emphasized that the deployment of the Pakistan Army and FC was essential for maintaining peace during the electioneering process, as the provincial police alone cannot cope with the challenges. The Pakistan Army had also performed security duties during the general elections of 2013 and 2018, and it was noted that the law and order situation was much better in 2018 as compared to 2013. The ECP has reiterated that holding peaceful and timely elections was a constitutional and legal obligation. This statement came after a briefing by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police, where they highlighted the challenges of maintaining law and order in several southern provinces and the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA. The ECP acknowledged the problems faced by the provincial government but stressed the importance of fulfilling its constitutional obligation to ensure free and fair elections. The Commission also consulted with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, Defense, Interior, Intelligence Agencies, Intelligence Bureau, ISI, CTT, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In his preliminary remarks, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) emphasized the need for transparency and peace during elections to allow voters to exercise their right to franchise freely. The Commission invited the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police to brief them on the security situation in the region. The meeting was attended by ECP members, the Secretary and senior officers of the Commission. The Commission will take suitable decisions after considering all the facts and consulting with all relevant stakeholders.