News Desk
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has announced the date of 9th April, 2023 (Sunday) for holding of provincial assembly elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Elections Act, 2017’s Section 57 (1) and has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce program for election in accordance with Section 57 (2) of the Act.
In his letter to the Election Commissioner of Pakistan’s Chief (CEC), the President said that he was under oath to protect, preserve, and defend Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Constitution under the under Article 42 read with third Schedule of the Constitution.
President Arif Alvi wrote that there being no restraining order from any of the judicial fora, there was no impediment in invoking the power and authority that has been vested in him under Section 57 (1) of Elections Act, 2017, allowing him to announce the “date or dates of the general elections” following consultations with the Commission.
President Arif Alvi announces date for polls
Thus, he stated that he had felt it essential to perform his statutory and constitutional duty to announce the elections’ date to avoid breach and infringement of the Constitution and law i.e., holding of elections not later than ninety days.
Furthermore, the President strated that the Governors of KP snd Punjab were not carrying out their duties as per the constituition for setting a date, not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of Provincial Assemblies as per the Constitution of Pakistan. Dr Arif Alvi added that the ECP was also not fulfilling its constitutional obligation for holding elections for the Assemblies of KP and Punjab.
“Both the constitutional offices (KP and Punjab) are placing the ball in each other’s court, akin to the old Urdu proverb (Pehle aap, pehle aap) thus, resulting in delay and creating a serious danger that constitutional provisions may be violated”, he said.
President Arif Alvi points out ECP statements on holding polls
The President of Pakistan added that the ECP had already indicated the possible dates of elections in its various communications to the constitutional functionaries showing its own responsibility of holding the elections within ninety days.
The President stated that he had initiated a serious consultation process with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017 to announce the date for the general elections of the aforementioned Assemblies, however, the ECP replied that the Commission could not participate in a meeting on the subject matter with the Office of the President.
He said that in the exercise of powers conferred upon him under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, he was announcing the date of 9th April 2023 (Sunday) for holding of general elections of the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
