President Dr. Arif Alvi has announced the date of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 9. In a letter written by President Arif Alvi to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, it has been said that under section 57 one of the Election Act 2017, elections have been announced for the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, April 9.
The letter directed the Election Commission to issue the election program under Section 57-2 of the Election Act and since there is no injunction from any judicial forum, there is no bar to exercise the President’s powers under Section 57-1. no.
President Arif Alvi has written that he has taken an oath to protect and defend the constitution under the constitution, the constitution and the law do not allow a delay of more than 90 days, so to avoid violating the constitution, he has to announce the date of the elections. I consider it necessary to fulfill the constitutional and legal duty.
He wrote that the governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not fulfilling their constitutional responsibility to set the date of election within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial assemblies. Dari is not being fulfilled, both the constitutional offices are putting the ball in each other’s court like the old Urdu proverb ‘Pahle Aap Nahi, Pahle Aap’. Is.
Arif Alvi has further written in his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner that the Election Commission has already indicated the possible dates of the elections in its various letters to the constitutional officials. It appears.
He said that he started a serious process of consultation with the Election Commission to announce the date of the general elections to the assemblies, but the Election Commission refused to participate in the meeting on the subject, so the powers under Section 57 (1) I am announcing the date of April 9, 2023 (Sunday) for the general elections of the Provincial Assemblies.
It should be noted that after the important meeting held today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had informed the President of its final decision not to make the Presidency a part of the consultation process regarding the provincial elections.
It should be noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan had replied to the second letter of President Arif Alvi, apologizing for making the Presidency a part of the consultation process.
It was said in the letter that it is regrettable that the Election Commission cannot include the President’s House in this consultation process. ) will do in the called meeting.
The President wrote two letters to the Election Commission for consultation on the elections, in the second letter the President invited the Chief Election Commissioner for an emergency meeting on February 20 to consult on the date of the general elections.
A meeting of the Election Commission was held today to consider the invitation given by the President, in which it was decided that the Commission cannot consult with the President.
It should be noted that on February 17, President Dr. Arif Alvi wrote the first letter to the Chief Election Commissioner to announce the date for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In the letter written by the President to Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, it was said that this letter is a continuation of the letter written by me on February 8, 2023 and there is nothing new in it that needs repeating. However, the sad thing is that the Election Commission did not respond to this letter and no action was taken by the Commission.
The letter said that however, there were some important developments like the decision of the Lahore High Court and the recent observations of the Supreme Court on the matter.
Later, in his second letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the President expressed his displeasure over the ‘indifference and inaction’ on the part of the Commission, which did not respond to his first letter.
Dr. Arif Alvi had said that he was anxiously waiting for the Election Commission to go ahead and act accordingly, realizing its constitutional responsibility, but he was extremely disappointed with the commission’s apathetic attitude on this important issue. happened
The Election Commission of Pakistan while replying to the first letter of the President of the State had categorically said that they have no role in announcing the dates of the general elections of the Provincial Assemblies and the Commission is well aware of its constitutional responsibility in this regard.
The reply letter stated that “According to Article 48(5) of the Constitution, when the National Assembly is dissolved by the President, he shall appoint the date for the election and the caretaker cabinet in accordance with the provisions of Article 224.” Where the Governor of a Province dissolves the Provincial Assembly under Article 105 (3) (a), he shall fix the date of general elections to the Assembly and appoint the Caretaker Cabinet’.
According to Clause 57(1) of the Election Commission Act 2017, the President can announce the date of general elections after consultation with the Election Commission.
It should be noted that on February 10, the Lahore High Court granted the PTI’s request and ordered the immediate announcement of the date of the Punjab Assembly elections.