Amid uncertainty surrounding the election schedule, the United States (US) has urged Pakistani authorities to hold “timely, free and fair” elections in accordance with the country’s laws.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said this while responding to a question regarding President Arif Alvi’s proposal that the elections should not be held before November 6, i.e. the 89th day after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As we do with countries around the world, we urge Pakistan to hold free and fair — free and fair and timely — elections, and human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,” Miller told reporters.”
The State Department spokesperson also urged Pakistani officials to conduct the election process in accordance with Pakistan’s laws, as we do with countries around the world.
A day ago, President Arif Alvi had written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja in which the cut-off date for the elections had been mentioned.
The President said that in light of Article 48(5) of the Constitution, he has the power and mandate to fix a date not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of the [Assemblies] to hold general elections. assembly.”
President Alvi said that the National Assembly was dissolved on August 9, 2023 on the advice of the then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to Article 48(5), the general election of the National Assembly should be held on Monday, November 6, 2023, on the 89th day after the date of dissolution of the National Assembly.
However, in the same letter, Alvi suggested the CEC to seek guidance from the Supreme Court on the date of the elections as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other stakeholders said that the new census would Accordingly, elections cannot be held without new delimitations. .
On Wednesday, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott in a meeting with CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad stressed for free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in Pakistan.
The British envoy shared the meeting with the CEC at the Election Commission in the federal capital on his account X, formerly Twitter.
“Had important introductory meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja at ECP today,” Marriott wrote in his post.
The diplomat added that he and the CEC agreed that it was crucial for Pakistan to observe “free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in accordance with the law”.
Last month, United States Ambassador Donald Bloom also met CEC Raja to reiterate his country’s support for “free and fair elections”.
The statement added that the US ambassador reiterated that the future leaders of Pakistan are to be chosen by the people of Pakistan.
The history of elections in Pakistan is a controversial issue, especially after the dissolution of the National Assembly on 9 August by the then Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Meanwhile, the Sindh and Balochistan Assemblies were also dissolved prematurely to allow the Electoral Authority to hold elections in the country within 90 days.
According to the law, elections must be held within 60 days if the legislature completes its constitutional term, but if the assemblies are dissolved prematurely, the deadline is three months.
Moreover, with the general elections likely to be delayed in the country, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the 7th Population and Housing Census 2023, days before the dissolution of the assemblies.
