The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suspended the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) due to delays in swearing members for reserved seats. K-P’s Election Commissioner, Shamshad Khan, sought confirmation of newly sworn-in members from the assembly staff amid a request from the opposition to delay the elections.
While Senate elections proceeded in other parts of the country, K-P’s polls were stalled, and they were awaiting the administration of oaths. Despite readiness and anticipation, the polls did not commence as scheduled.
The ECP later announced this postponement, referencing a prior order and the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision, emphasizing the lack of oath administration. This situation led to an incomplete electoral college, hindering the elections’ integrity.
The ECP’s statement clarified the necessity of swearing in elected members to fulfil the election’s standards of honesty and fairness. Consequently, elections were delayed until these members were officially sworn in, adhering to constitutional and legal requirements.
This development followed hints from the ECP about a potential postponement tied to these administrative delays, highlighted by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati’s legal challenge against the PHC’s directive for oath-taking.
