The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced late on Wednesday night the election date of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would occur on October 08, coinciding with Punjab’s elections.
The electoral authority issued a statement declaring October 8, 2023, as the polling date for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Assembly General Elections, adding that the election schedule under Section 57(2) of the Elections Act, 2017 would be released in due time.
Initially, the KP Governor suggested May 28 for the elections but later changed the proposed date to October 8, citing security concerns.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is likely to be unhappy with this development, as they previously opposed the delay of Punjab elections, while the federal government supported the postponement.
President Arif Alvi set April 30 as the election date following a Supreme Court order. However, on March 22, the ECP rescheduled the elections, attributing the decision to security concerns.
In response to the delay, PTI, which had dissolved both assemblies in January to facilitate early elections, filed a case with the Supreme Court, currently under review by a five-member bench, including Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
The ECP’s decision to postpone the Punjab elections came after security and financial organizations declined to support the commission during the elections.
PTI alleges that the government fears electoral defeat and is avoiding elections, while the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
