Alvi Asks ECP to ‘immEdiAtEly’ sEt Polls’ dAtE for PunjAb, kP

g sensitises ecp to importance of fair, free polls as specified in constitution g points to example of u.s. where elections were held even during wars ing of elections, in fact, if such postponements of constitutionally mandated elections are evaluated throughout the world in recent history, they have morphed into serious long term set-backs to democracy,” he said. the commission has already taken an appropriate constitutional measure and announced the holding of by-elections on the national assembly seats of various differently situated constituencies.

“it will thus be in the fitness of things and in accordance with constitution and law i.e. elections act, 2017, to immediately announce the date of polls by issuing election schedule and put an end to such dangerous speculative propaganda for these and future general elections,” he added.

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iSLAMABAD staff RepoRt in a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, sikandar sultan raja, the president has directed the commission to “immediately announce” the election dates for the provincial parliaments in accordance with the elections act, 2017. he referred to the dissolution of the provincial parliaments in punjab and Khyber pakhtunkhwa and said that, as per article 224(2) of the constitution, elections for the assembly must be held within 90 days of the dissolution. in his letter, the president emphasised the importance of the ecp’s duty to con- duct fair and free elections, as specified in part-viii of the constitution, particularly article 218 (3). he also reminded the cec and members of the tribunal of their oath, as stated in article 214 and the third schedule of the constitution, to discharge their duties in accordance with the constitution and the elections act. he stressed the significance of the preamble and objectives resolution, which maintain that the state shall exercise its power and authority through elected representatives of the people, and emphasised the democratic principles and values that must be adhered to. alvi also pointed to the examples of the united states, where elections were held even during wars, and said that the commission had already announced the holding of bye-elections for national assembly seats.

Presidentdr arif alvi on wednesday ordered the election commission of pakistan (ecp) to immediately announce the date for snap elections in Khyber pakhtunkhwa and punjab, and put an end to “dangerous propaganda” suggesting the vote should be postponed.

“i am of the firm view that there are no such circumstances as may furnish any justification for delaying or postpon- in one go’: president alvi’s letter comes a day after the ruling coalition insisted that the country could not afford separate polls, confirming its intention that elections in punjab and Kp within 90 days were not going to happen. pml-n leader saad rafique said in a press conference on tuesday that elections should be held simultaneously as the country could not afford separate polls amid a precarious economic situation. similarly, the prime minister’s special assistants, malik ahmad Khan and attaullah tarar, also spoke the government’s mind to hold elections of the national and provincial assemblies on the same day after completion of the tenure of the federal coalition. malik ahmad Khan was very categorical about the delay in polls in Kp and punjab, saying the constitution doesn’t say anything about holding elections within 90 days. “we cannot meet the demands of imran Khan,” the pml-n leaders said.

“elections should be held in the country at one time,” he made it clear.