Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has responded to President Arif Alvi’s letter and expressed serious reservations over the usage of words in the letter.
According to sources, the commission wrote back to the President on Saturday, stating that the ECP is an autonomous and independent institution that abides by the law and constitution of the country.
It also respects and complies entirely with the court orders, it added.
ECP responds to President’s letter
The ECP objected that it was inappropriate for the President to write words like ‘indifference’ about the ECP. Sources said that the ECP maintained that it was dismayed and disappointed for writing such terms by the President.
It further said that the commission was fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities in the best possible manner. However, the ECP said it has decided to attend the meeting called by the President.
The letter does not specify the officials of ECP would attend or not attend the President’s meetingat the President’s House at 11 am on Monday.
President Airf Alvi wrote two letters to the Election Commission of Pakistan inviting it for consultations on polls for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
The last letter was written on Friday to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, where the President invited him for an emergency meeting on February 20 at the President’s House regarding consultation on elections under Section 57(1).
“Under the Act, the President shall announce the date or dates of general elections after consultation with the election commission,” the letter maintained. “There have been some important developments like the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the recent observations of the Supreme Court on this matter,” it added.
Arif Alvi also expressed his displeasure on the indifference of the election commission, adding that the commission had not yet responded to the first letter.
