The Senate of Pakistan passed a resolution calling for a delay in general elections scheduled for February 8 on Friday.

The resolution, moved by Senator Dilawar Khan from KP, was approved with a majority vote.

It argued that the law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not suitable for holding elections. It added that the elections should be delayed until the security situation improves.

The resolution referred to the recent terror attacks in the country, including those targeting JUI-F leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman and National Democratic Movement leader Mohsin Dawar.

The resolution also claimed that the increasing number of coronavirus cases was also a cause of concern, though shortly before the resolution was moved the health minister told the House that no case of Covid-19’s JN.1 strain was detected in the country.

The resolution added that the current schedule for elections should be suspended and a new schedule should be issued when a more favourable situation was created in the country.

Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Beheramnd Tangi also supported the resolution adding that things were not suitable for elections in KP and Balochistan.

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s Senator Afnanullah Khan opposed the resolution saying his party was not in favour of a delay in elections. He added that many people were hopeful that elections would be delayed, but they must take place as they were a constitutional requirement.

The resolution was then passed by a majority of the senators present in the house. The swift approval of the motion surprised many both inside and outside Parliament. Reports said that the house was mostly empty and only 13-14 members were present at the time.

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Only Afnanullah voted against the resolution while many in the house abstained from giving an opinion.

Dilawar Khan was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as an independent candidate on a technocrat seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Senate election in March 2018.

Resolution passed for the second time

As the clamour of the resolution’s passing was heard, more members hurried into the house. Also among the new entrants were three caretaker ministers Jalil Abbas Jilani, Murtaza Solangi and Jamal Shah.

The resolution was therefore tabled and passed again. However, Solangi voted against the election delay.