THIS is with reference to the editorial ‘Delayed polls’ (March 24). As a concerned citizen of the country, I am deeply troubled by the potential ramifications of the postponement of elections and the apparent lack of commitment to democratic norms, and the constitutional obligations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

It is the right of the people to choose their representatives through a free and fair electoral process. The repeated delays and concerns about the security situation in Punjab have raised serious questions about the ECP’s ability to hold any elections in a free and fair environment.

The establishment should also provide the security that is required to undertake the electoral exercise. The security situation in Punjab has been volatile in recent times, and this is a matter of grave concern for the whole process.

Every authority and institution in the country should focus on fulfilling their respective constitutional obligations, and hold the elections in a free and fair environment. The right of the people of Pakistan must be respected, and democratic norms must be upheld.

Fida Karim
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2023