ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is at a crossroads after the federal government’s refusal to provide funds for general elections to the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and a similar message from the military regarding troops for security-related duties.

This situation is also believed to have came up during a couple of meetings held at the commission’s offices on Thursday; one held to review arrangements for all upcoming electoral exercises, while the second being a consultative session with political parties on code of conduct for elections.

Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the first huddle held threadbare discussion on the arrangements in place for upcoming electoral exercises.

The second consolation, which was meant to hammer out a code of conduct for the polls, was also attended by representatives of major political parties, such as PML-N, PTI, MQM-P, BAP, ANP and the National Party.

However, these hectic meetings appear to be ‘wishful thinking’ after both the country’s financial managers and the military expressed their inability to fulfill the commission’s requirements.

In letters written to the commission on Wednesday, the ministries of finance and defence had excused themselves from providing the kind of support the ECP was looking for.

“[The] government of Pakistan is going through unprecedented economic crisis and facing fiscal deficit. Under these challenging circumstances, [it] has to ensure funds for flood affected areas and the census, besides meeting expenses on running of the government and provision of sectoral subsidies. In such a scenario, arrangement of funds for unplanned/un-budgeted expenditure would put additional financial burden on the economy,” the Ministry of Finance said in the letter sent to the ECP, seen by Dawn.

As per the ministry, the country is under an IMF programme and has strict targets for maintaining fiscal discipline and deficits. They have asked the ECP to consider deferring their demand for funds until the economic condition improves.

“As such ECP has demanded Rs.61.805 billion in total for the conduct of elections. While requesting for additional funds, ECP has not clearly shared details of the required amount.”

In another letter, the Interior Ministry informed the commission that civil and armed forces personnel could not be spared for election duties either, due to the difficult security situation arising in the wake of a recent spike in terrorism.

Owing to the needs of border security, internal security duties, maintenance of law and order, protection of key installations , security of foreigners, apprehension of illegal immigrants, anti-gun running and drug trafficking duties and deployment at forward posts, it said “the security forces are fully engaged in combating the threats posed by the terrorists to the peace and stability of the country and the life and property of the people”.

The letter pointed out that a terrorist organisation — a reference to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — has openly threatened leaders of political parties and there are apprehensions that political gatherings could become targets during the campaign.

In addition, military troops are also required to undertake widespread deployment for conducting the next Census from Feb 27 to April 3.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2023