PTI Chitral petitions ECP to postpone LG polls till May-June
ISLAMABAD: Office-bearers of the ruling PTI in the districts of Lower and Upper Chitral on Saturday approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking postponement of the local government elections scheduled to be held on March 27 till May-June due to harsh weather conditions.
In a petition filed with the ECP, they said Chitral normally witnesses extremely cold weather along with heavy snowfall and avalanches in February and March during which most of the villages remain cut-off from each other restricting mobility, PTI Upper Chitral information secretary Syed Mukhtar Ali Shah told ChitralToday.
Moreover, majority of the people of Chitral migrate to urban areas in the winter and return after mid-April.
There are also areas in Broghil and Torkhow valleys of Upper Chitral which remain cut-off for most of the winter months due to blockade of the roads.
In such a situation, it would not be possible for the residents to cast their votes. The petition requested the ECP to postpone the elections to May and June so that a maximum number of people could use their right.
The first phase of the LG elections was held in 17 districts on Dec 19 while the ECP on January 20 issued a schedule for holding the second phase in 18 remaining districts, including Lower and Upper Chitral, on March 27.
Most general elections have been held in the winter months. What has happened now. End March is begining of spring in Chitral and best time to hold elections.