ECP has power to announce election date: law ministry

Asserting that it was the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which had the authority to give date for general elections, the Ministry of Law, in its declaration issued on Wednesday, said that elections for the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies’ seats should be held on one day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The declaration was issued at the end of meeting of law ministers of all four provinces, held in Islamabad.  

Federal Minister for Law Ahmad Irfan chaired the meeting.

It was further stated in the declaration that it was the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which was responsible for holding free and fair elections in the country. “ECP is an independent and constitutional body,” read the declaration.

All departments were directed in the declaration to respect the ECP’s mandate while announcing the elections’ schedule and demarcation of constituencies.

The federal and provincial law ministers during the meeting underscored the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring the smooth conduct of elections.

Caretaker Minister for Law and Justice, Ahmad Irfan Aslam convened the meeting with provincial law ministers including Kanwar Dilshad (Punjab), Muhammad Omer Soomro (Sindh), Arshad Hussain Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Amanullah Kanrani (Balochistan).
The meeting was held to discuss matters pertaining to the upcoming general elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies, said a press release issued in Islamabad on Wedneday.
During the meeting, all Law Ministers underscored the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring the smooth conduct of elections.

It was unanimously agreed that the Constitution must be read as a whole and no provision of the Constitution be read in isolation from other relevant provisions.

As per the Constitution, the conduct of general elections and announcement of election dates is the sole competence of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Provincial Law Ministers emphasized that in order to strengthen the Federation, ensure harmony amongst all federating units and avoid unnecessary financial burden on the national exchequer incurred owing to the provision of security arrangements on different election dates, the general elections to the National and the four Provincial Assemblies must be held on the same day.

The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent constitutional body. It is the responsibility of all organs of the State to respect the autonomy of the Election Commission and its authority in carrying out the delimitation of constituencies and determining the election schedule.

The discussion highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in Pakistan, adhering to the principles of democratic governance, the statement mentioned.

The federal and provincial governments remain dedicated to promoting a democratic and inclusive electoral environment, it added.

 

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori