THE sense of uncertainty that had taken hold between the nights of Wednesday and Thursday stands broken. We have a green signal: elections will go ahead as scheduled on Feb 8.

The prospects of polls being held all over the country on the same day had been thrown in doubt once again after reports that the ECP had requisitioned a high-level moot yesterday over the worsening law and order situation in KP and Balochistan. The announcement had led some to speculate that an election delay in the two provinces might be on the cards.

A senior ECP official had told this publication that the Commission was deeply perturbed over the recent surge in terrorism-related violence and discussed the option of delaying polls in high-risk areas. Another said, “Anything was possible.” Meanwhile, a statement issued on behalf of the army had been more reassuring, promising that the armed forces were ready to protect the “quintessential democratic exercise”.

All is certainly not well in the country, not with candidates being gunned down or targeted in gun and bomb attacks on their offices, convoys and rallies.

There is a clear and present danger from the myriad terrorist and militant outfits operating in the country, who have made plain their intentions to use this sensitive transitional period as an opportunity to sow more chaos in the country.

There is considerable social unrest, not just due to the extreme political polarisation seen in this election cycle but also because of more entrenched issues, such as the discontent of the people of GB and the enforced disappearance crisis plaguing Balochistan.

It is within this challenging environment that law enforcement and security forces have to operate as they strive to protect a nationwide activity that has the participation of millions of citizens. Commendably, they are rising to the occasion and have reaffirmed their preparedness for the task at hand.

It has been stated before, but bears repeating that our security forces and law-enforcement agencies must now dedicate their energies solely to their core job of protecting the people. Taking a confrontational position against those they are responsible for protecting is not just a violation of their oath of service, it also creates unnecessary risks that may imperil the law-and-order situation.

All they should focus on is the safety and security of the public. Law enforcers must remember that they are there to fix problems, not become a part of them.

As they make their security plans, policymakers should account for the fact that inimical forces seeking to destabilise the country will try to take advantage of its internal divisions. To counter their designs, LEAs and security forces must affirm that they are there for everyone, regardless of their political affiliations or beliefs.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2024

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.