Islamabad, The Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, has expressed optimism about the feasibility of holding elections on February 8, 2024, despite the current suspension of returning officers’ training due to orders from the judiciary.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, In a conversation with a private news channel, Solangi stated that the issue of training halt, ordered by the judiciary, needs to be resolved by the judiciary itself. Despite facing serious challenges, he believes that the elections can proceed as scheduled. The Minister emphasized that there are no obstacles from the government’s side in conducting the elections.

He assured that the government has committed to providing financial, administrative, and security support to the Election Commission. The Commission has already received substantial funds for conducting the elections, with an initial disbursement of 10 billion rupees, followed by a further 17 billion rupees upon the Commission’s request.

Solangi also highlighted the government’s capability and responsibility to ensure security during the elections, including protecting all political leaders. In addition, he mentioned ongoing communication between relevant Pakistani agencies and the Afghan government regarding terrorist activities. He expressed concern over Afghanistan becoming a haven for terrorist groups, posing threats not only to Pakistan but also to other countries in the region.

This statement underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring a secure and efficient electoral process, despite the challenges posed by the halt in judicial training for returning officers.