The date of expected elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to be announced on Monday (March 6) when the principal secretary of the province opens the letter sent by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), KP Governor Ghulam Ali said on Saturday.
“The principal secretary received the ECP’s letter at 8 pm yesterday. The secretary is on leave, he will open the letter himself when he returns on Monday,” Ali said.
The Punjab and KP Assemblies were dissolved on January 14 and January 18, respectively, and by law elections were to be held within 90 days of their dissolution.
However, after the governors refused to fix the election date, the matter reached the Supreme Court which directed the President to announce the election date in consultation with the Commission, and the KP Governor himself to announce the election date. give
On Friday, the ECP – after holding its third consecutive meeting following the Supreme Court’s order – sent a letter to KP Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ghulam Ali, asking him to respond in light of the Supreme Court’s directive. Waiting for
In a separate letter to President Alvi – the election body had recommended that elections to the provincial assembly in Punjab be held between April 30 and May 7.
The letter said that the Commission is ready to fulfill its constitutional and legal obligations after the date is selected by the President.
Later, President Arif Alvi announced the date of general elections in Punjab on April 30.
Governor KP said that the President announced the date himself, while he wished that President Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the agreed date.
Ali added that he had contacted the President but still he announced the date unilaterally.
“It was the ECP’s job to make the arrangements but I will give the proposed date,” the governor said, adding that elections would be held on whatever date became available in light of the Supreme Court order.
