Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday released the schedule for the Punjab Assembly elections, and polling is scheduled to be held on April 30.
President Dr. Arif Alvi had already fixed April 30 (Sunday) for elections in Punjab province after the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that the elections to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies should be held within the stipulated period of 90 days.
The apex court had allowed the ECP to propose a poll date that deviates from the 90-day deadline by the “barest minimum” in case of any practical difficulty, following which consultations were held, and April 30 was finalized.
ECP notifies schedule for Punjab Assembly election
“In pursuance of the dissolution of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab on January 14, 2023, and Order dated March 1, 2023, passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan in Suo Motu Case No. 1 of 2023, Constitution Petition No.1 of 2023 and Constitution Petition No.2 of 2023 and announcement of date by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as April 30, 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan in terms of Article 224(2) and 254 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 57(2) of the Elections Act, 2017 (Act No. XXXIII of 2017) and all other powers enabling it in the behalf, hereby call upon the electors of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab constituencies to elect their representative from each of these constituencies to the general seats,” the ECP notification read.
Last November, former prime minister Khan announced that his party would disassociate itself from the “current corrupt political system” by quitting the two provincial assemblies where PTI was in power.
Even though the coalition government faced several obstacles, the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies were dissolved on January 14 and 18, respectively. As per the law, the elections are to be held within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies.
This meant that April 14 and April 17 were the deadlines for holding general elections in Punjab and KP assemblies, but the two governors, instead of setting elections dates after receiving the ECP proposal.
During meetings with the ECP, chief secretaries and inspectors-general of the two provinces had said they were short of the police force and talked of terrorism threats, making out a case for putting off elections.
