ECP mulls delaying polls in KP, Balochistan after law and order situation deteriorates

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday convened a crucial meeting to discuss the worsening state of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan ahead of the February 8 polls.

According to sources, the electoral body is mulling delaying elections in the two provinces after attacks on political rallies, offices, and candidates for the last few weeks.

A day earlier, an Independent candidate from NA-8 Bajaur, Rehan Zeb Khan, who was also a youth activist of PTI, was killed by unknown assailants in the Siddiqabad Phatak Bazar area of the tribal district.

Following the harrowing incident, the ECP directed the provincial chief secretary and IG KPK to submit a comprehensive report of the incident.

In a separate incident in Killa Abdullah district, unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle sprayed bullets on supporters of the Awami National Party (ANP), killing one person.

House of Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, a former provincial minister and PPP candidate for the provincial assembly, was also attacked by a grenade in Kech district.

On January 30, the PTI rally was attacked by a planted bomb, in which four people were killed while six were wounded.

The recent surge in terror attacks has prompted the electoral body to overview the law and order situation in the two provinces.

The meeting, scheduled at 3pm in Islamabad, will be attended by the minister and secretary of interior, chief secretaries, inspectors general of KP and Balochistan, and officials from intelligence agencies.