Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja has announced that general elections will go ahead as planned on February 8 even though there are security concerns.

In a statement issued after a high-level meeting in the Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday, Raja said that preparations for the elections are completed and that everything will take place as per schedule.

However, the statement also added that the Commission had expressed ‘concern’ over the recent acts of terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The CEC said that terrorism was the biggest enemy of the electoral process.

However, the CEC also expressed ‘complete confidence’ in security forces to get the elections conducted without any mishap.

Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting in the Election Commission of Pakistan, Ejaz said the caretaker government will ensure that elections are held on time and as per the law. He added that there should be no confusion about the matter and that the elections will take place ‘come what may’.

Ejaz also said that he had visited Balochistan recently and found no political tension in the province. He added that Wednesday’s incident in Balochistan was an act of terror and had nothing to do with elections.

He added that the army was doing an ‘exemplary’ job of ensuring peace and stability across the country.

Prior to the statement, Raja chaired a meeting regarding the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in view of elections.

The meeting was attended by chief secretaries and inspector generals of both provinces as well as the interior minister and interior secretary. Representatives of intelligence agencies were also present in the meeting.

The participants of the meeting were given a detailed briefing about the prevailing situation in KP and Balochistan and any possible impact on elections.

The meeting comes after multiple terror events in Balochistan over the last few days. In addition, election candidates were murdered in Chaman in Balochistan and Bajaur in KP.

After news of the meeting being scheduled was announced, speculation had begun that a delay in elections in the two provinces could be on the cards.