Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali Friday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the general elections in the province on October 8, the same date the electoral watchdog has announced for Punjab, keeping in mind a rise in terror activities.

The governor, in the letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, said it would be in the "best public interest as well as in the interest of the state" if polls were held in October instead of a previous date that he had suggested — May 28.

The ECP's decision to withdraw an earlier announcement for Punjab elections came after security and financial bodies refused to back the commission during the upcoming polls.

“It has been reported that ECP has issued Order dated 22 March, 2023 whereby for detailed reasons stated therein, the General Elections for Punjab have been postponed and fresh elections schedule is to be issued for 08 October, 2023. Your good office must note that subsequent to my last letter, fresh wave of terrorist activities had taken place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis. Major terrorist activities include cross border fire in North Waziristan, IED blast on Army Vehicle in Kohat, heavy exchange of fire with terrorists in South Waziristan on 15 March, Unknown terrorists fire on Police Station Bara, District Khyber on 19 March, terrorist attack on Police Station in DI Khan followed by search operation by the Army resulting into martyrdom of 3 Army Soldiers on night 21-22 March, 2023. On 21 March 2023, a convoy was ambushed in South Waziristan resulting into Martyrdom of Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Burki from ISI and injuring 7 other ranks wherein 2 are critically injured,” wrote KP governor.

“Since ECP has postponed the election date for the general elections of Punjab province to 08 October, 2023, therefore, it is also suggested that same 08 October, 2023 be proposed/appointed as election date for General Elections of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the best public interest as well as in the interest of the state,” said KP governor.