The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday postponed by-elections in all constituencies in wake of devastating floods in the coutry.

The decision was taken in an important meeting of ECP held under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The meeting was attended by the members of the election commission, the secretary election commission and other senior officials of the election body.

The Secretary Election Commission briefed the participant of the meeting regarding the by-election in 13 consituencies of the National Assembly saying that in the constituencies of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the election commission had given a schedule for the by-elections according to which polling was be held on September 11, 25 and October 2, 2022, respectively.

Following the decision, the election has been postponed in NA-157, PP-139 Sheikhupura, PP-241 Bahawalnagar, NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Karam, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana, NA-237 Malir, NA-239 Korangi Karachi, NA-246 Karachi and PP-209 Khanewal.

The meeting was told that due to the recent disasters and floods in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and South Punjab, the means of transportation had been disrupted, buildings had been destroyed and the transport system had been disrupted, while the national emergency has been declared.

The ECP said only the polling dates in the above mentioned constituencies have been postponed, while all the other procedure and steps will be completed as per schedule.

It said the decision to postpone the by-elections has been taken after getting proper feedback from the Interior Ministry according to which Pakistan Army, Rangers, and the Frontier Corps are busy in relief work for the flood-affected people, maintaining the internal security, and thwarting out terrorist activities in the country.

“Ensuring peaceful elections is the prime responsibility and priority of the election commission for which services of the Pakistan Army, Rangers and other security agencies were not available at the moment,” it said and added that the decision to postpone the by-election was taken in the best interest of the public so that peaceful polling process can be ensured.

The commission will announce new dates for the polling as soon as it finds the availability of the law enforcement agencies personnel.