ISLAMABAD: Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), has ruled out the prospect of a communications or internet service failure on February 8, the day of voting.
Following a security meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the CEC stated on Thursday that “no proposal for internet shutdown on election day is under consideration.”
The top electoral body convened a comprehensive meeting to discuss security arrangements and strategies to address any untoward situation on election day, given the dangerous circumstances the nation is currently facing due to a recent spike in terrorist attacks, particularly targeting political parties and their rallies.
Following the discussion, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to holding the elections on schedule and gave the country confidence that it was in charge of the security situation.
CEC Raja rejected any plans to cut off communications, which has been utilized as a safety precaution, but said that all essential preparations will be taken to ensure a peaceful holding of elections on February 8.
“There shouldn’t be a doubt about the conduct of polls on February 8,” he stated.
The Election Management System (EMS) of ECP will function offline in the event of an internet outage, the election commissioner stated in response to a query.
There has been no plan to halt internet and communication services in the province on February 8, according to Ahmed Shah, the interim information minister for Sindh.
Shah declared that the province’s caretaker government is prepared for the election at a news conference in Karachi.
