ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday constituted a high-level committee to oversee security for the upcoming general elections.

According to a notification issued by the interior ministry, a copy of which is available with Dawn, Federal Minister for Communications, Railways and Maritime Affairs Shahid Ashraf Tarar will be convener of the six-member committee. Other members of the committee include secretary of interior and chief secretaries of the four provinces.

The panel will be free to co-opt any other member if required. Under the terms of reference (ToRs), the committee will be responsible for overseeing security arrangements for general elections.

It will also review and resolve matters regarding administrative arrangements and coordination for smooth conduct of general elections.

The committee will be empowered to issue directions for urgent requirement of additional security where law and order situation so warrants.

It will implement instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for effective conduct of the polls. The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC), Ministry of Interior, will serve as the secretariat of the committee.

The formation of the committee comes amid disclosure about threat alerts, with some politicians seeking bullet-proof vehicles and security, and a handful of senators seeking postponement of polls through submission of resolutions citing law and order as well as weather conditions in Balochistan and KP.

The committee was formed a day after the ECP was assured by top officials of the four provinces and the federal capital that all arrangements were in place to hold elections despite threats.

The ECP, in response to a resolution passed by a thinly atten­ded Senate seeking postponement of the polls, has already made it clear that elections cannot be put off at this stage.

PM Kakar has also repeatedly stated that elections will take place on Feb 8 as scheduled.

In an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, the prime minister said it was a constitutional requirement to hold elections and everyone in the country was committed to that particular date. He said people of Pakistan will have a choice to exercise their right to vote and they will elect a government for the next five years. Mr Kakar said elections will lead to economic stability in the country.

Early this month, gunmen attacked the vehicle of an independent candidate in Nawagai tehsil of Bajaur, killing his cousin and injuring his brother.

The house of PPP candidate for a provincial assembly seat in the Kech district of Balochistan, Asghar Rind, was attacked with grenades by unknown assailants.

Last month JUI-F chief Maul­ana Fazlur Rehman escaped an ar­med attack in Dera Ismail Khan.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024