KP election date: Governor replies to ECP, calls for consultation

 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor has replied to the Election Commission's letter, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.

According to Governor Ghulam Ali, the reply has been made in the light of the Supreme Court, calling for deliberation upon the election date on March 7 or 8.

The orders of the Supreme Court will be strictly implemented, the governor said.

The top court last week ordered the Election Commission to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 90 days.

The five-judge larger bench ruled holding elections within 90 days is mandatory in accordance with the Constitution.

The court declared the poll date of April 9 set by the president for elections in Punjab will be effective while it struck down the president’s KP vote date.

It ruled that if the elections are not possible on April 9 in Punjab, the ECP in urgent consultation with the president and the governor can set another date. The court remarked that the KP governor by not announcing the election date has negated his constitutional duty.  

It continued: “The KP governor must have unveiled an election date after dissolving the assembly. If the governor dissolved the assembly then the governor will announce the election date.

"The Election Commission of Pakistan failed in discharging its role in the election. The ECP is bound to consult with the governor and the president. All the stakeholders including the federal government should assist the ECP in holding the elections."