Pakistan Senate Passes Resolution To Delay General Election Scheduled For Feb 8

Islamabad: In a significant development, Pakistan’s Senate has endorsed a resolution calling for a postponement of the upcoming general election, scheduled for February 8.

The resolution, put forward by independent Senator Dilawar Khan, gained widespread support in the upper house of Parliament. Khan argued that severe cold weather in many parts of the country made it impractical for elections to proceed smoothly. Additionally, he expressed concerns about the prevailing security situation, citing attacks on politicians and security forces in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Despite the Senate’s decision, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, led by three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, opposed the move. The resolution, passed with only 14 lawmakers present, contradicted the Supreme Court’s explicit directives to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to adhere to the scheduled election date.

This unexpected turn of events has heightened political and economic uncertainties in the country. The Pakistan Stock Exchange responded negatively to the resolution, witnessing an immediate drop of over 800 points. The decision to delay the election has raised concerns about the overall stability of the nation, both politically and economically.