ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been exempted from consulting President Arif Alvi on the provincial assembly elections as the matter is in court.
In its letter, the Election Committee of Secretary insisted that after the dissolution of the Punjab and KP assemblies, the Governor was approached for the election date in accordance with the constitution. It added that while the governors had responded to letters sent by the ECP, no voting date had so far been announced.
The council said it had consulted with the Punjab governor on February 14 following an order from the Lahore High Court (LHC), but he “regrets the appointment of the poll date and informed that he will take legal action against the court’s decision.” Remedy LHC, as it is not binding on him”.
“It is made clear that the ECP is not empowered by the Constitution to appoint a date for voting if the Premier dissolves the Provincial Assembly or due to the passage of time under Article 112(1) of the Constitution,” the letter reads. highlight.
The ECP also referred to its in-court appeal against the order as it was asked by the LHC to hold consultations in the absence of any such provision in the constitution, as well as other writ petitions currently pending in the Peshawar High Court.
Notably, President Alvi on Friday invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to call an “emergency meeting” on February 20 for votes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab. date for consultation.
