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\u2022 Elections should be held by 89th day of NA dissolution; Alvi tells ECP to seek guidance from superior judiciary
\u2022 PM Kakar hints at election in Jan; experts term president\u2019s letter \u2018tactical move\u2019 to appease PTI<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD: In a move that has further clouded the air around general elections, Presi\u00addent Dr Arif Alvi wrote to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday, suggesting polls should be held across the country no later than November 6, the 89th day since the dissolution of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n
This was the fourth such letter written by the president to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja regarding elections in the country. In previous letters, the president had suggested dates for the elections for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n
On Feb 20, the president had unilaterally announced<\/a> April 9 as the date for the general elections for the Punjab and KP assemblies. Later, he asked the ECP to hold polls in two provinces on any date between April 30 and May 7. The Punjab<\/a> and KP assemblies<\/a> were dissolved on Jan 14 and Jan 19, respectively.<\/p>\n Political experts termed the president\u2019s latest move \u201cuncalled for\u201d, as they were of the view that by writing to the CEC, he had created an ambiguity as the president has not given a \u201cclear-cut date for the polls and he has only asked the ECP that the polls should not go beyond Nov 6\u201d.<\/p>\n The president cited Article 48(5) of the Constitution which, according to him, empowered and mandated him to fix a date not later than 90 days from the date of the dissolution for the holding of a general election to the Assembly.<\/p>\n Hence, \u201cin terms of Article 48(5), the general election to the National Assembly should be held by the 89th day of the date of dissolution of the National Assembly, i.e. Monday, 6th day of November 2023\u201d, read the fresh letter.<\/p>\n The president recalled that in an endeavour to fulfil the constitutional obligations, he had invited<\/a> the CEC for a meeting. The CEC did not meet the president and took a contrary view<\/a> that as per Article 51(5) of the Constitution and framework of electoral laws, it was the domain of the ECP to decide the election date. The law ministry had also expressed the same view<\/a> on the matter and in reply to the president\u2019s query, it had reiterated that all four provincial governments were of the opinion that the announcement of the election date was the ECP\u2019s mandate.<\/p>\n The president said, \u201cFurther, there is a consensus that to strengthen the federation and to promote unity and harmony amongst provinces and to avoid incurring unnecessary expenses, general elections to the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies must be held on the same day.\u201d<\/p>\n Acknowledging that it was the ECP\u2019s responsibility to abide by all the constitutional and legal steps stipulated under articles 51, 218, 219, 220 and the Elections Act 2017 for organising and conducting free and fair elections, the president advised that the ECP, in \u201cconsultation with provincial governments and political parties under the relevant provisions of the Constitution and in view that some of these matters are already sub judice, may seek guidance from the superior judiciary for announcement of a single date for general election to the national and provincial assemblies.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Tactical move\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Talking to Dawn<\/em>, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said the president had made a \u201ctactical move\u201d by not clearly announcing the date of elections but proposed Nov 6, just to appease his party, PTI.<\/p>\n He was of the view that there was no need for such a letter because Dr Alvi has no power to announce the date for the polls. \u201cThe president\u2019s letter was unclear and confusing,\u201d he added. He said the president\u2019s suggestion was also out of the context that the ECP, political parties and provincial government should seek guidance from the Supreme Court for holding elections of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies on the same day.<\/p>\n \u201cHolding polls on the same day is out of the question and, therefore, the president\u2019s suggestion is irrelevant,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mr Mehboob said President Alvi had \u201ctarnished the respect and image\u201d of his office by writing the letter, adding that the matter regarding the election was already in the apex court.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the PTI core committee lauded the president for \u201cexercising his constitutional powers by referring the matter of fixing the election date\u201d to the top court. The core committee noted the president of the state had fulfilled his constitutional duty under Article 48(5) regarding the date of elections. The committee said the president had referred the matter to the apex court and the entire nation\u2019s eyes were now on the SC.<\/p>\n