ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held a meeting on Tuesday to review the situation arising after the unilateral announcement of election dates in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by President Arif Alvi and the Attorney General for Decided to consult with Pakistan and other legal experts.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the ECP said that all the members of the commission attended today’s meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The meeting was convened by the President to consider the situation after the date of the provincial assembly elections was fixed on April 9.
On Monday, the President announced the date in exercise of his powers under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, and further asked the ECP to issue an election program as per Section 57 (2) of the Act.
Dr. Alvi’s move was rejected by the federal ministers who maintained that the president had abrogated the constitution and had no right to announce the date.
The ECP said that the commission has been and will continue to take decisions without any pressure as per the constitution and law.
It further said that the ECP is always ready to conduct elections within 90 days as per the constitution and law, but nowhere in the constitution is it written that the commission will give the date of the election.
However, the election body is bound to announce the election schedule immediately after the date is fixed by a competent authority.
“The announcement of the date by the President was considered in detail in the Commission meeting today and it was decided to seek further guidance from the Attorney General for Pakistan and other legal experts,” the statement added.
In this regard, the ECP said that the AGP has been invited tomorrow (Wednesday) and two constitutional experts are being selected for consultation.
