Tariq Saeed Peshawar
The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to submit its reply on President Arif Alvi’s announcement of general elections date in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab amid observation as to how can the ECP disagree with the President
A two member bench comprised of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, and Justice Syed Arshad Ali was hearing petitions against a delay in the announcement of the schedule for polls to the provincial assembly, which was dissolved on Jan 18.
The ECP lawyer said in his arguments Justice Arshad Ali in his initial remarks said the court will ask the ECP what will happen as the president has announced the date of the election in KP.
The election commission lawyer during his arguments informed the court that President Alvi wrote a letter to the ECP for consultation on the election date, but the body did not agree with the president’s invitation adding the ECP has summoned the attorney general of Pakistan for consultation on the matter and the minutes of the meeting will be shared with the PHC.
To this Justice Arshad asked as to how could ECP disagree with the President. The PHC while ordering the ECP to announce the election schedule for by-polls in KP issued notice to the AGP to assist the court. The hearing of the case was adjourned til February 28.
