President Arif Alvi invites CEC for urgent meeting on elections

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ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for an urgent meeting on general elections, ARY News reported on Friday.

As per details, the invitation has been sent to consult on elections under Section 57(1) of Elections Act, 2017, in the president house.

The letter stated that the election date or dates will be announced after consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

President Arif Alvi expressed displeasure over the behavior and inaction of ECP. He also mentioned that the ECP didn’t respond to his earlier letter as yet.

صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا چیف الیکشن کمشنر کو خط

صدر مملکت کی چیف الیکشن کمشنر کو انتخابات سے متعلق ہنگامی اجلاس کی دعوت

صدر مملکت کی سکندر سلطان راجہ کو 20 فروری 2023 کو ایوان صدر میں سیکشن 57 ایک کے تحت الیکشنز کے حوالے سے مشاورت کے لیے دعوت

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 17, 2023

The letter further stated that the president has waited that the Commission would realize its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly, but he was extremely disappointed by ECP’s approach regarding elections.

Earlier, President Arif Alvi asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately issue the election schedule for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assemblies.

In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, President ArifAlvi had said that the election of an assembly is to be held within 90 days of the dissolution as provided by Article 224(2) of the Constitution.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab and KP assemblies were dissolved on Jan 18 and Jan 14, respectively, after former prime minister Imran Khan had announced to dissolve assemblies in an attempt to force the government to hold snap polls.

As per the Constitution of Pakistan, polls need to be held for the dissolved assemblies in 90 days.