The Federal Interior Ministry has written a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for deferring by-elections for 90 days, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.
The minister made the request for postponing the by-elections scheduled to be held on October 16. The letter stated that the Pakistan Army and the FC have engaged in large-scale rescue and relief operations and the federation and the provinces have put most of their energies and resources into rehabilitation work
There are authentic reports that a political party wants to besiege Islamabad and the dates correspond to the October 16 by-elections, it said, adding that to maintain law and order in Islamabad, a large number of lawmen will be required.
The election commission has the authority to change the schedule of elections and in such a situation, the minister said, stressing that there will be severe pressure on Army, Rangers, and FC,
If additional work is taken from these institutions, the credibility of the election may be questioned, thus it is requested that the by-elections should be postponed for 90 days, the letter said.