Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has said he wanted peaceful and transparent elections in the province.

“I want free, fair and peaceful elections in the province as per the directives of the Supreme Court, he said.

He added: “It is the responsibility of all political parties to play their part in bringing in national development and betterment in the larger interest of the state. There will be another meeting with the Election Commission in a couple of days. He met President Arif Alvi on the matter too.

"As the provincial government was also asked in writing about the preparation and requirements of the election, a written reply was also sent to the Election Commission.

“In light of our letter, the Election Commission called a meeting in connection with security. The people of the merged districts are also protesting in Islamabad and demanding that elections should not be held before the census and new constituencies.

He continued: “Requesting all political parties to sit together and take a unanimous decision. The Election Commission is trying to follow the decision of the Supreme Court, but we have to look at the ground realities. We have accepted the decision of the Supreme Court.

“There is a clear difference between the situation in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As the constitutional head of the province, the provincial government has also informed the election commission about the situation

“The country is facing economic difficulties and it is the responsibility of all political parties to get the country out of these difficulties and work for the interests of the country. In democratic traditions, protest is a democratic right of everyone, but the protest should be peaceful.”