Pakistan senate approves resolution to delay February 8 elections, but decision not binding

The resolution to postpone the national elections in Pakistan, initially scheduled for February 8, has been approved by the Senate, AlJazeera reported on Friday, citing local media reports. The upper house of the country’s parliament passed the resolution moved by an independent senator on Friday. Despite opposition from the caretaker government responsible for overseeing the elections, the resolution, which is non-binding, does not necessarily imply a further delay in the electoral process.

There was no immediate comment from the election commission, the body that conducts elections in the country.

“January and February are the coldest months in majority areas in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provinces),” Reuters quoted independent Senator Dilawar Khan, who moved the resolution during a session with only 14 lawmakers in attendance, as saying, adding that there were security concerns too.

Originally set for November the previous year, the elections were postponed to February due to the redefinition of constituencies following a new census.

Pakistan is currently being run by a caretaker government under interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar that is meant to oversee a general election.

Caretakers are usually limited to overseeing elections, but Kakar’s set-up is the most empowered in Pakistan’s history thanks to recent legislation that allows it to make policy decisions on economic matters.

The legislation is aimed at keeping on track the conditions for a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured in June.

With inputs from agencies