ECP yet to decide on date for elections for Punjab, KP assemblies

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has so far failed to make up its mind as to whether it will hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on the date given by President Arif Alvi in his letter, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

In this connection, the meeting held last night remained inconclusive. 

However, the (ECP), after receiving the letter from the president, has completed its consultations with two constitutional experts.

Quoting its sources, the channel reported that the commission had held consultations with Shah Khawar and Shah Swati. 

The ECP will now seek Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Shahzad Ata’s opinion on the subject before making its own viewpoint public. 

Two days ago, on February 20, 2023, President Dr Arif Alvi shocked the coalition government when he announced that elections to the Punjab and KP assemblies would be held on April 9, 2023 (Sunday).

He had also asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the election schedule in accordance with Section 57 (2) of the Act.

In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CEC), the president had said that he was under oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan under Article 42 read with third Schedule of the Constitution. 

He wrote that there being no restraining order from any of the judicial fora, there was no impediment in invoking the power and authority vested in him under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, empowering him to "announce the date or dates of the general elections after consultation with the Commission".

Therefore, he added, he had felt it necessary to perform his constitutional and statutory duty to announce the date of elections to avoid the infringement and breach of the Constitution and law i.e., holding elections not later than ninety days.  

Reporter: Usman Khan