President Arif Alvi asks ECP to announce elections dates for Punjab and KP assemblies

ISLAMABAD:

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has asked the Election Commission of
Pakistan to announce dates for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province.

Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies were dissolved on Jan 14 and 18,
respectively.

In a letter written to the ECP Chairman, President Alvi said that it was the
responsibility of the Commission to hold elections within 90 days after the
dissolution of assemblies.

President Alvi quoted Article 224(2) of the Constitution which makes compulsory
by-elections within 90 days.

Arif Alvi made it clear that if the ECP failed to fulfill its obligation,
the commission will be held responsible for violating the Constitution of
Pakistan.

President Alvi said, “He was under the oath to preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution being the head of the state.”

He also reminded the ECP and CEC about their constitutional role under
Article 214 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution.

It says, “I will discharge my duties……faithfully in accordance with the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”, and the Elections Act, 2017
to avoid serious consequences of breach/violation of the Constitution/law and
announce the election schedule of the two dissolved assemblies forthwith.”

“I am of the firm view that there are no such circumstances as may furnish
any justification for delaying or postponing of elections, in fact, if such
postponements of constitutionally mandated elections are evaluated throughout
the world in recent history, they have morphed into serious long term set-backs
to democracy,” President added.

It may be noted here that the ECP has discussed the dates for elections in
Punjab and KP with the provincial governors.

The commission, however, is holding consultation with all the key
stakeholders to finalize election schedules in Punjab and KP in March or April
this year.