\u00a0In its second letter, the Ministry of Interior Thursday told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that terrorist activities might take place during the by-polls as it asked the body to hold the elections in a “cautious” manner.
\nThe October 16 by-elections were scheduled to take place in eight constituencies \u2014 NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, NA-237 Malir and NA-239 Karachi.
\nThe ministry had earlier this month written a letter to the commission seeking a delay of 90 days as security personnel were busy in flood relief works and it was feared that a certain party would “besiege” the federal capital.
\n“It is feared that the political leadership coming into Punjab will be targetted. The by-elections should be held in a cautious manner,” the ministry’s letter said.
\nThe letter mentioned that nationalist parties belonging to Sindh and Balochistan could engage in terrorist activities in Karachi \u2014 where local body elections will be held on October 23.
\nThe ministry said that it would not be possible for the police alone to control the law and order situation during the by-polls \u2014 and the armed forces, as well as other law enforcement agencies (LEAs), were busy in flood relief works.
\nThe ministry added that in some provinces, the police’s actions showed partiality. Also, it noted that currently, the country’s political temperature was high and the “workers of all political parties are charged”.
\nThe interior ministry added that terrorists have increased their activities in Karachi and Punjab after the deadly floods.
\n“At this moment, the army and para-military forces are busy in flood relief operations. A surge has been witnessed in the activities of terrorists and extremists,” the ministry said.
\nIt noted that as compared to 2021, there was an increase of 52% in terrorism-related activities during the ongoing year.
\nCiting reports released by intelligence agencies, the ministry revealed that terrorists are present in Swat, Mardan, Peshawar, Tank, and Lakki Marwat.
\nIt was further mentioned that the officials of law enforcement agencies, government allies, and members of peace committees are being targeted.
\nThe ministry highlighted that there has been a significant increase in Khyber Pakhtunkwa as a result of which 222 incidents of terrorism have been reported in the last three months.
\n\u201cSince June, terrorists have been entering Pakistan through secret routes on the Afghanistan border and Taliban have facilitated TTP through these secret routes,\u201d the letter read.
\nSindh refuses to provide security Before the interior ministry’s letter, the Sindh government refused to provide security personnel for the October 23 local body polls in Karachi.
\nOn October 4, the ECP turned down the Sindh government\u2019s plea to differ the local body elections in the port city for three months.
\nDespite the refusal, the provincial government has again written a letter to ECP seeking a delay in polls for the next three months in the metropolis city.
\nThe provincial government, however, excused itself from providing security resourcing, saying that a large number of the security personnel were engaged in the flood relief world.
\n\u201cWe are unable to provide the required security resources for the October 23 elections as a large number of police officials are busy helping the flood victims,\u201d said the Sindh government
\nThe provincial government, however, agreed to provide security if the local body polls are held in two phases in the metropolis.
\n\u201cIf the situation returns to normal in three months, security resources will be available for the local body election,\u201d the provincial government added.
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