By Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately announce the election date for the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
In a letter written to the chief election commissioner, the president said that timely announcement in this regard would help curb the propaganda based on the speculations, adding the constitution of the country doesn’t allow delay in the elections of the provincial assemblies.
In the letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, President Alvi 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.
He highlighted that conduct and holding of elections was the primary and essential duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan as per Part VIII of the country’s constitution, particularly Article 218 (3) which assigned the duty to the ECP to ensure the holding of fair and free elections.
The president held that it was ultimately the ECP which is to be held responsible and answerable for the violation of the Constitution of the country. Alvi stressed that he was under the oath “to preserve, protect and defend the constitution” being the head of the state.
President reminds ECP of its responsibilities
He reminded the CEC and other ECP member about their fundamental duty as per their oath under Article 214 and Third Schedule of the Constitution, which says “I will discharge my duties……faithfully in accordance with the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan”, besides the Elections Act, 2017 to avoid serious consequences of violation/breach of the law/constitution and announce election schedule for the two dissolved provincial assemblies forthwith.
