By Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
ISLAMABAD: Just a day after President Arif Alvi announced the date of elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday decided to consult the Attorney General for Pakistan and legal experts on the subject.
In a press release issued after a huddle at the ECP headquarter Tuesday, the electoral watchdog said that a meeting with the legal experts — yet to be named — and AGP has been called for tomorrow (February 22).
The government had condemned president’s move as “unconstitutional and illegal” as President Alvi on Monday unilaterally fixed April 9 as the elections date for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP.
The development had come hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan reaffirmed its decision not to consult the president on dates for elections to the two provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP.
ECP discussed president’s move
In a meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja on Tuesday, the Commission discussed the president’s move. “In the meeting, it was decided that the ECP will continue to take decisions as per the constitution and without any pressure,” the electoral watchdog said in the press release.
It said that as per the law and the constitution, the Commission remains prepared to hold elections within 90 days. “But it is nowhere written in the constitution and law that the ECP will give the date for elections”.
Albeit, after the date of elections is fixed by a lawful authority, the commission is bound to issue an election schedule and hold elections,” the statement added.
