Punjab Elections Archives - Dissent Today https://dissenttoday.net/tag/punjab-elections/ Speaking Truth to Power Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:45:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi And Taliban Planning To Target Shias, ECP Tells SC https://dissenttoday.net/news/lashkar-e-jhangvi-and-taliban-planning-to-target-shias-ecp-tells-sc/ https://dissenttoday.net/news/lashkar-e-jhangvi-and-taliban-planning-to-target-shias-ecp-tells-sc/#respond Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:45:47 +0000 https://dissenttoday.net/?p=3435 The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a report to Supreme Court, saying that terror outfits Lashkr-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are planning to target the Shia community which is why holding Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 might lead to “anarchy”. The ECP warned of “anarchy and chaos” if the polls for […]

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]]> The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a report to Supreme Court, saying that terror outfits Lashkr-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are planning to target the Shia community which is why holding Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 might lead to “anarchy”.

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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