The ECP warned of “anarchy and chaos” if the polls for the provincial assemblies are not held the same day, saying that the electoral watchdog was informed by the Sector Commander Inter-Services Intelligence Punjab on March 10th that the militant outfits are aiming to target Shia community “which in turn will accentuate sectarian strife”. It also added that the “hostile intelligence agencies are working strenuously to destabilise the economy and political environment in the country”.

The electoral watchdog told the Supreme Court that “elections on two different dates” could potentially expose people to “terrorism twice”.

The ECP said that in a meeting with Acting Secretary/ Special Secretary (Interior), the electoral watchdog was told that there is a “serious threat” to politicians as various terrorist organisations are “colluding to destabilise the country”.

The report stated that the Joint Director General IB Punjab told the ECP that RAW “will strive to destabilise the country in the current political scenario by targeting political figures. There are potential threats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and Pakistan People’s Party”.

Meanwhile, the Additional Secretary Defence told the electoral watchdog that since January there have been 252 incidents of terrorism, adding that there have been 3,600 major operations in Punjab. The secretary also said that 30 per cent of the Pakistan Army is deployed on the border with Afghanistan and 20 per cent on the border with India. “Therefore 50 per cent of the Pakistan Army is perpetually deployed and pre occupied with this sensitive assignment.”

“It is re-iterated that the poll date of 8th October, 2023 as announced earlier is in keeping with the ground realities and it is also believed that if this itinerary is not followed, it may lead to anarchy and chaos in our country, the responsibility of which ECP cannot withstand,” it warned.

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The Interior Ministry said the armed forces would not be able to perform poll duties as they were busy with conducting census and counter-terrorism activities.

It further said the decision was taken due to an increase in terror activities.

Over the past few months, the law and order situation of the country has deteriorated.

Earlier this month, a blast targeting a mosque inside a police compound claimed over 60 lives. Banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for one of the deadliest blasts in the city.

Last month a police station in Peshawar was also targeted, resulting in three deaths. Meanwhile, the day after the deadly Peshawar attack, Punjab police thwarted an attack on a police station in Mianwali.

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Fawad being taken from CTD Lahore to Cantt court. One unarmed politician abducted in early hours today now being escorted by this huge contingent. Mohsin Naqvi doesn't waste time to show his virulent hatred of PTI & also do his Masters bidding. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/YWTmI5uG9L

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 25, 2023

According to his brother, Faisal Chaudhry, the ECP was already targeting the PTI leader for his criticism of them. A first information report (FIR) against the PTI leader, lodged by Secretary of the Election Commission Umar Hameed at Kohsar police station in Islamabad, was shared by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police. This FIR references sections 153-A (promotion of enmity between groups), 506 (criminal intimidation), 505 (statement inciting public mischief) and 124-A (sedition) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Disgusting. ECP was after my brother since long. It’s A farce Thy must know we won’t bow down we’ll keep exposing wrong doings of ECPمعمولی گیڈڑ بھبکیاںں سچ بولنے سے روک نہیں سکتیں ECP کافی دنوں سے چوہدری صاحب کے پیچھے پڑا تھا۔ یہ ایک جھوٹا مقدمہ ہے ہم ہر زیادتی کی خلاف لڑیں گے https://t.co/JXd7x9i6kP

— Faisal Hussain (@faisal_fareed) January 25, 2023

آئینی ادارے کی درخواست پر پی ٹی آئی رہنما فواد چوہدری کے خلاف مقدمہ درج کیا گیا۔

سیکرٹری الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان کی درخواست پر تھانہ کوہسار میں درج کیا گیا۔

فواد چوہدری نے چیف الیکشن کمشنر اور ممبران کو ان کے فرائض منصبی سے روکنے کے لئے ڈرایا دھمکایا۔
1/2

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) January 25, 2023

The wife of the PTI leader, Hiba Fawad, called this incident a kidnapping. “No FIR was shown to the family. 8-10 police officials entered our home… grabbed him, and left… We do not even know where they took him. We have not been told or given any information.” Meanwhile, Chaudhry has been reportedly detained at Cantt Kacheri, Lahore. He has been brought to the Cantt court amid heavy security. 

یہ گرفتاری نہیں، یہ اغوا ہے، ہمارے گھر کے اندر8سے10پولیس والے آئے،بغیر کوئی ایف آئی آر دکھائے اٹھاکر لے گئے، اہلیہ فواد چودھری حبا فواد کی ہم نیوز سے گفتگو#FawadChaudhry pic.twitter.com/FESVnzra9X

— HUM News (@humnewspakistan) January 25, 2023

پولیس کی یہ گاڑیاں فواد چوہدری کو گرفتار کرکے لے جارہی ہے pic.twitter.com/y0R2bebffK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 25, 2023

Several PTI leaders have condemned the arrest as being undemocratic, while pointing towards the political victimisation of the party’s political workers. Videos showing a convoy of police vehicles claiming to carry Chaudhry have also been shared on social media. 

The series of unlawful activities continues. @fawadchaudhry’s phone have been switched on at CTD station, and messages are being read. Fascism of this regime in unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/QtGpxUQcyP

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 25, 2023

پولیس کی یہ گاڑیاں فواد چوہدری کو گرفتار کرکے لے جارہی ہے pic.twitter.com/CJXiAHO3fQ

— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) January 25, 2023

فواد چودھری کی علی الصبح بغیر وارنٹ گرفتاری اس ملک کی جمہوریت اور قانون کی بالادستی پر ایک زوردار طمانچہ ھے۔ کیا قصور ھے فواد کا؟ کس جرم کے تحت اٹھایا گیا؟ خدارا پاکستان کے ساتھ کھلواڑ بند کیا جائے ورنہ حالات کسی کے قابو میں نہیں رہیں گے ۔

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 25, 2023

Utterly shameful. Arresting @fawadchaudhry bec he called ecp secy a Munshi! Fascism at its worst. How can calling someone a Munshi or any other derogatory term even be a cause for arrest? Let alone keeping him at CTD lockup? Terrorists roam free but political opponents arrested!

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 25, 2023

فواد چوہدری کو فوری طور پر رہا کیا جائے-ظلم کے یہ ضابطے ہم نہیں مانتے- اس امپورٹڈ حکومت نے انسانی حقوق کی پامالیوں کے سارے ریکارڈ توڑ ڈالے-عدلیہ سے انصاف کی اپیل کرتے ہیں-فواد کیخلاف کوئی مقدمہ نہیں-پی ڈی ایم بیانات پر کیا کاروائی کی گئی؟ کیا انہیں گرفتار کیا؟@fawadchaudhry

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) January 25, 2023

Strongly condemn the arrest of @fawadchaudhry by the #ImportedGovernmentNaManzoor

Pakistan has become a lawless state at the hands of these lawbreaking lawmakers and corrupt law enforcement officers!

All hell bent on pushing this country towards anarchy!

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) January 25, 2023

Minutes before he was arrested, he was seen tweeting about political workers gathered outside PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence, shunning the government’s alleged plan to arrest the party chief.

Zaman Park Imran Khan Residence at this hour pic.twitter.com/eO2270D9K6

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 25, 2023

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