Senate Resolution Calls for Postponement of Pakistan's General Elections Due to Weather and Security Concerns

The upper house of Pakistan's parliament, the Senate, has passed a resolution seeking the postponement of the general elections scheduled for February 8. This is the third resolution of its kind, with the latest citing cold weather and security concerns as reasons for the delay. The resolution, tabled by independent Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman, highlighted the extreme cold weather and heavy snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which would create difficulties for citizens to cast their votes and for candidates to campaign.

It also cited security concerns, noting that candidates were facing threats of terrorist attacks while campaigning. The resolution urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to delay the polls to a date acceptable for all relevant stakeholders, in order to remove hurdles in the way of free and fair elections. This follows similar resolutions previously tabled in the Senate, with the first resolution passed on January 5.

Rumors of election delays have been circulating for months, as the February 8 date comes after months of delay, as the election should have been held by mid-November last year according to Pakistan's constitution. While major political parties have rejected the non-binding resolution, maintaining that further deferring the electoral process would be unconstitutional, the calls for delay point to growing political uncertainty ahead of the planned elections.