ECP writes letter to President Alvi, proposes polls in Punjab between April 30 and Might 7 – Pakistan
The Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) mentioned on Friday that it has written a letter to President Dr Arif Alvi suggesting doable dates — between April 30 and Might 7 — for elections in Punjab.
The choice was taken within the electoral physique’s assembly as we speak, which was presided by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
“The Election Fee has despatched a letter to the president in mild of the choice of the Supreme Courtroom of Pakistan, during which the dates for holding the elections in Punjab have been recommended between April 30 and Might 7, 2023,” an ECP press launch, a duplicate of which is offered with Daybreak.com, mentioned.
It acknowledged that the fee was ready to fulfil its constitutional and authorized responsibility as soon as the date for elections was chosen by the president.
The press launch additional mentioned that the ECP has written a letter to the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that the electoral physique was ready for his response concerning the date for polls within the province.
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The announcement comes two days after the Supreme Courtroom ruled that the elections to the Punjab and KP assemblies must be held inside the stipulated interval of 90 days. It, nevertheless, allowed the ECP to suggest a ballot date that deviates from the 90-day deadline by the “barest minimal”, in case of any sensible problem.
It additionally held that President Alvi and the KP governor will repair dates for Punjab and KP assemblies, respectively, in session with the ECP.
The Punjab and KP assemblies have been dissolved on Jan 14 and Jan 18, respectively. Underneath the regulation, the elections are to be held inside 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies.
Which means April 14 and April 17 have been the deadlines for holding basic elections to Punjab and KP assemblies, however the two governors as an alternative of setting dates for elections after receiving the proposal from the ECP had advised the fee to seek the advice of stakeholders.
Chief secretaries and inspectors-general of the 2 provinces throughout conferences with the ECP had mentioned they have been in need of police drive and talked of terrorism threats, making out a case for laying aside elections.
The finance division had additionally expressed its incapability to offer funds and the inside ministry told the ECP that the military and civil armed forces won’t be out there.
‘A victory for the Constitution’
In a video message on Twitter, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that his party has welcomed the electoral body’s announcement and called it a “step in the right direction”.
“We believe that the ECP took the right step in light of the SC’s order,” he said, elaborating that the apex court had said in its Wednesday’s order that the president and ECP could go beyond the 90-day period of holding polls but it had also used the word “bare minimum”.
Fawad added that the final date for polls will now be announced by the president.
“We congratulate the public. This is a victory for the PTI, the nation and the Constitution.”
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