ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has on Wednesday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately release the schedule of the provincial assemblies elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa otherwise it will be responsible for violating the constitution. .
According to a press release issued by the President’s Secretariat, President Alvi has made this appeal in a letter written to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
The President reminded the CEC that as per Article 224 (2) elections shall be held within 90 days if the Assembly is dissolved prematurely. He further said that the main function of ECP is to organize and conduct elections.
“Thus, ultimately it is the commission, which, if it fails to discharge its duties and responsibilities, will be held responsible and accountable for violating our constitution,” the president warned the ECP. ‘
Referring to his oath to protect and defend the Constitution, President Alvi reminded the CEC and ECP members of their primary duty as per their oath under Article 214 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution.
Dr. Alvi reminded the ECP chief and members to announce the election date to avoid violation of constitution and law and dire consequences.
The President also highlighted that “the oldest democracies never delayed elections even during wars”. He highlighted the example of former presidents of the United States, James Madison and Abraham Lincoln, who participated in the elections despite the war in their country.
“I am of the firm opinion that there are no circumstances which can justify the delay or postponement of elections, in fact if one considers the postponement of constitutionally mandated elections around the world in recent history, they are seriously prolonged. Dr. Alvi said that democracy suffered a blow.
President Alvi praised the ECP for announcing by-elections for vacant National Assembly seats and asked the body to end “dangerous speculative propaganda” for the upcoming and future general elections. Immediately release the election schedule for
Both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interim setups have been settled after former prime minister Imran Khan – to force the government to hold snap elections – has hit both provincial assemblies like a wrecking ball – but uncertainty over When will the vote be held? The holding is far from over.
Much of the debate focused on the possibility of postponing the elections has begun to pave the way for debates about the future of Pakistan’s politics.
According to the constitution of Pakistan, if an assembly is dissolved, elections must be held for that assembly within 90 days.
However, the governors of the two provinces – Balighur Rehman in Punjab and Haji Ghulam Ali in KP – are yet to approve the dates for the polls, which has been heavily criticized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
