ISLAMABAD – President Dr Arif Alvi has announced April 9 as the date for holding general elections for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local legislatures.
In a letter, President maintained Chief Election Commissioner was invited vide letter of even number dated 17th February, 2023 for a meeting under Section 57 (1) of Elections Act, 2017, to announce the date for the general elections of the aforementioned Assemblies. However, ECP has replied that the Commission cannot participate in a meeting on the subject matter with the Office of the President.
Quoting Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, President said it empowered him to announce the date or dates of the general elections after consultation with the Commission.
He announced the elections on April 9 in both provinces, and called out ECP for being ‘reluctant to fulfil the responsibility to hold the elections as per the constitution’. The constitution made it illegitimate to postpone elections for more than 90 days, President added.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے پنجاب اور خیبر پختونخواہ میں انتخابات کی تاریخ دے دی
صدر مملکت نے الیکشن ایکٹ 2017 ء کے سیکشن 57 ایک کے تحت 9 اپریل بروز اتوار پنجاب اور خیبر پختونخواہ کی صوبائی اسمبلیوں کیلئے انتخابات کا اعلان کردیاhttps://t.co/Gr3iBpm8L2
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 20, 2023
The country’s supreme commander earlier approached the country’s top electoral watchdog to announce the date for elections in Punjab, and KP without delay.
The recent development comes months after Imran Khan-led PTI dissolved assemblies in the country’s two local assemblies.
More to follow…
