ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Monday to hold by-elections in 42 national and provincial assembly constituencies on Aug 22 as per previously announced schedule, rejecting a plea by the secretary of defence to postpone elections in Dera Ismail Khan in view of the possibility of terrorist attacks.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ECP, presided over by acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the prime minister, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, secretary of defence, provincial chief secretaries, director general of meteorological department, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman and senior ECP officials.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was represented at the meeting by Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar while Leader of Opposition Syed Khurshid Shah was represented by former MNA Ghulam Murtaza Satti.

The meeting decided that army would be deployed in and outside all highly sensitive polling stations and outside all other sensitive polling stations.

Briefing reporters, ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan said Secretary of Defence Lt General Asif Yasin Malik shared an intelligence report about a possible terrorist attack during bye-polls in a National Assembly constituency of Dera Ismail Khan and proposed postponement of poll there. The commission, however, observed that a decision on this would be taken after consulting all stakeholders. The provincial election commission authorities were asked to seek views of contesting candidates. He said that all 10 contesting candidates opined that polls must not be put off.

The commission therefore decided to hold by-elections in Dera Ismail Khan in accordance with the schedule announced by it. The ECP secretary said that security would be enhanced in the area in view of possibility of the terrorist attack.

He said the NDMA had reported that there was no flooding in any area where the polling was to take place except for four polling stations in Jhal Magsi constituency. It was decided that improvised or mobile polling stations will be established to replace four polling stations.

He said that 7,606 polling stations would be set up. Of these, 3,080 have been declared normal, 2286 sensitive and 1820 highly sensitive.

He said that it was the duty of presiding officers to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in their respective polling stations, adding that they had been given magisterial powers for three days starting a day before elections.

He said that keeping in view the past experience where presiding officers did not or could not exercise these powers, the designated in-charge army officers had been given magisterial powers to intervene on receiving reports of any wrongdoing in any polling station. Mr Khan said that free, fair and transparent elections would be ensured.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani in his opening remarks at the meeting said that all necessary arrangements for holding by-elections in 42 national and provincial assembly constituencies, including printing and delivery of ballot papers, had already been made.

Pointing out that the commission did not have any elaborate administrative machinery or force to carry out this gigantic task, he said the ECP’s strength lay in Article 220 of the constitution which reads “it shall be the duty of all executive authorities in the federation and in provinces, including the army, to assist the commissioner and commission in the discharge of their functions”.

He said that credible and transparent elections were instrumental in strengthening democracy and stability of any country and prosperity of its people depended on true representatives of government, elected through free, fair and genuine elections.

“The more effective the elections are, the better are chances for democracy to flourish so that the people of the country feel the sense of participation and decision making in state affairs, enjoy fundamental rights and lead a peaceful and prosperous life as a result of true democracy,” he remarked.

Justice Tassaduq Jillani said these bye-elections would be complimenting general elections 2013 by filling up vacancies created by death, resignation and disqualification of contesting or returned candidates and thus this exercise could be said to be the last phase of general elections 2013.

He said the ECP expected each and every national institution to play its role with the same spirit as was shown in general elections held on May 11 and help assist the ECP in holding free and fair bye-elections.