News Desk
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately announce election date in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and put an end to current quagmire and dangerous speculative propaganda on both the provincial assembly and general elections.
The provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP were dissolved on January 18 and January 14, respectively, after the announcment of the former prime minister Imran Khan with an effort to pave the way for fresh general elections.
Alvi asks ECP to announce election date
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on Wednesday, the president said that the election of an assembly must to be conducted within 90 days of the dissolution as provided by Article 224(2) of the Constitution.
He stressed that the conduct and holding of elections was the primary and essential task of the Election Commission as per PART VIII of the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly Article 218 (3) which assigned the duty to the ECP to ensure the holding of fair and free elections.
Arif Alvi stressed that being the head of the state he was under the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Pakistan.
He reminded the CEC and other members of the ECP about their fundamental duty as according to their oath under Article 214 and Third Schedule of the Constitution, and the Elections Act, 2017 to avoid serious consequences of breach/violation of the Constitution/law and announce election schedule of the two dissolved assemblies forthwith.
Govt view on Election
President Dr Arif Alvi’s letter comes a day after the leaders from the incumbent government insisted that the country could not afford to hold separate polls, confirming its intention that elections in KP and Punjab within 90 days would be difficult to happen.
PML-N leader Saad Rafique said in a press conference on Tuesday that elections should be held simultaneously as the country could not afford separate polls amid a precarious economic crises.
Meanwhile, in a meeting of the KP and Punjab governor previous day, media reported that both the dignitaries agreed to hold elections in the two provinces in October this year which is almost the same time as when the current federal government will be completing its 5-year term.
