In Islamabad, Senator Dilawar Khan presented a resolution in the upper house of parliament on Friday, advocating for a delay in the elections. This resolution gained approval from the majority of attending legislators. Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, who was present, opposed this proposition.
He mentioned that many regions in the country were currently facing severe cold weather, making it difficult for voters in those areas to participate. Senator Dilawar highlighted incidents such as attacks on Mohsin Dawar and members of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), as well as assaults on security forces in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also cited ANP leader Aimal Wali’s reservations about the elections and noted threat alerts issued by intelligence agencies during election rallies.
Senator Dilawar emphasized that the Senate believed elections should not proceed without addressing these challenges. Consequently, he proposed the postponement of the February 8 elections, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to initiate the process.
He expressed the Senate’s trust in the electoral body. However, Senator Afnanullah Khan from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) opposed the resolution. He criticized the notion, stating that the security situation during the 2008 and 2013 general elections was worse, yet the elections were held. He argued against using security concerns as a perpetual excuse to delay elections, likening the current situation to the postponement of elections by the United Kingdom and the United States during World War II.
Senator Afnanullah criticized the push to postpone elections as an act of subservience. Senator Samina commented on climate change, stating that the country was experiencing positive changes and praised the armed forces. Additionally, Senator Kauda Babar noted that extreme weather conditions in certain parts of the country might prevent holding elections.