ISLAMABAD:
The country’s polls oversight authority has postponed by-elections at nine different National Assembly and Punjab Assembly constituencies in view of floods. Most of these seats had fallen vacant after conviction of PTI lawmakers in May 9 rioting cases and their subsequent de-seating.
According to an official notification issued on Thursday, the ECP postponed by-elections at 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-203 Sahiwal.
It said the polls body would announce new dates for the elections “once the situation improves”. The by-elections were earlier scheduled for September 18 and October 5.
The statement said an ECP meeting was held on Thursday to review a request from the provincial government and concerned district returning officers to suspend the polls. The polls body later accepted the request “in the public interest”.
The ECP cited the widespread destruction of roads, bridges, railway lines, electric poles, and cellular towers, as well as damage to government buildings and schools designated as polling stations and storage sites for election materials, as reasons for the deferment.
“The ongoing rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas have stretched civil administration and law enforcement agencies to their limits. Polling staff, many of whom are government employees currently engaged in relief efforts, are unavailable to perform election duties,” it said.
According to the statement, several district returning officers informed the commission about the non-availability of appointed polling personnel. They requested the appointment of fresh staff from neighboring districts.
However, the scale of the disaster has made it difficult to organize the elections as planned, it said.
It said the Government of Punjab also formally requested the postponement, citing the “devastated flood situation” and the engagement of civil administration in rescue and relief operations as the main reasons behind the request.
The ECP stressed its constitutional obligation to hold elections under secure and fair conditions, noting that conducting elections amid such disruptions would “disenfranchise voters” and undermine the security and integrity of the polls.
“The decision to postpone the elections is in the public interest,” the ECP said. “Polling will resume once the situation stabilizes to ensure that elections are conducted with optimum security and full voter participation.”
At least 46 people have died and more than 3.7 million affected as heavy monsoon rains and water releases from India worsen flooding in Punjab. Nearly 1.8 million people have been evacuated in recent weeks after floodwaters submerged nearly 3,900 villages.
