Alvi Urges ECP Announce Election Date: On Wednesday, President Arif Alvi urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stop spreading “dangerous speculative propaganda” about the provincial assembly and general elections and “quickly declare” the dates for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
After former prime minister Imran Khan indicated that his governments in the two provinces will dissolve their assemblies to make space for new elections, the assemblies in Punjab and KP were dissolved on January 18 and January 14, respectively.
Alvi stated in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja today that the election of an assembly must take place within 90 days of the dissolution by Article 224(2) of the Constitution.
He emphasized that according to PART VIII of the Constitution, specifically Article 218 (3), which assigned the duty to the ECP to ensure the holding of fair and free elections, the conduct and holding of elections was the major and vital job of the ECP.
President Alvi’s Statement on Election Dates and Constitutional Obligations of Election Panel
The president made it clear that the panel would ultimately be held accountable for any violations of the nation’s Constitution if it failed to carry out its functions and obligations.
Alvi emphasized that as the head of state, he was bound by an oath “to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.”
He reminded the CEC and other ECP members of their fundamental responsibility under the Elections Act of 2017 and their oath under Article 214 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution, which states that they will “do my duties faithfully by the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” to announce the election dates for the two disbanded assemblies right away to avoid serious consequences for breaking the law.
The president continued by claiming that the United States of America, one of the oldest democracies in modern history, was strong because “it has never delayed its elections.”
“I am of the firm belief that there are no such circumstances which may provide any justification for delaying or postponing elections such postponements of constitutionally mandated elections throughout the world in recent history have transformed into serious long-term setbacks to democracy,” he said.
According to President Alvi, the ECP has already taken the proper legal action by announcing the conduct of bye-elections for seats in the National Assembly from several distinct geographically dispersed constituencies.
“Therefore, to disclose the date of the polls by publishing the election schedule and put a stop to such harmful speculative propaganda for present and future general elections, it will be in the fitness of things and compliance with Constitution and legislation, i.e. Elections Act, 2017,” he continued.
Elections “in one go,” according to the ruling coalition
Additionally, the President Alvi’s letter arrived just a day after the ruling coalition strongly reiterated its stance on preventing elections in Punjab and KP within 90 days, claiming that the nation’s financial situation could not support separate elections.
On Tuesday, PML-N leader Saad Rafique suggested during a press conference that the nation’s fragile economic situation requires simultaneous elections to take place.
He made it plain that all of the country’s elections should take place at once.
Malik Ahmad Khan and Attaullah Tarar, the special aides to the prime minister, also expressed the government’s desire to hold national and provincial assembly elections on the same day following the expiration of the federal coalition’s term in office.
Malik Ahmad Khan was adamant about the delay in the elections in Punjab and KP, stating that the Constitution makes no mention of holding elections within ninety days. The PML-N leaders said that they were unable to satisfy Imran Khan’s requests.
‘Court arrest’ drive, claims Imran if voting is postponed
On the other hand, Imran Khan, the leader of the PTI, has connected his Jail Bharo Tehreek (court arrest campaign) to a postponement of the elections for the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies past the required 90 days.
The former premier, in a video message issued earlier this week from his Zaman Park mansion, stated that the failure to announce an election date 25 days after the dissolution of the legislatures violates the Constitution and triggers Article 6.
Furthermore, In his speech, he made a connection between the drive and the failure to hold provincial assembly elections within the required 90-day window, noting that “all powerful nations observe the law. The Constitution determines what is legal and what is not. We disbanded the assemblies because we believe in the Constitution and the legal system that everyone must uphold. Everyone must hold elections within 90 days and on schedule or else Article 6 will pursue the violators.
Imran Khan’s Statement on Two Options and Announcement of Judicial Arrest Movement
“Now that we’ve arrived at this situation, we have two choices. One option is to enter the streets and cause a wheel jam, but this will harm Pakistan’s economy. The second is to give in to this “imported” government’s intention to imprison us, which is why there is the Jail Bharo Tehreek. I want the district presidents to register the volunteers.
“I will offer a date for the commencement of the judicial arrest movement within a few days,” he continued.
However, Imran also made fun of the Punjab and KP governors as well as the ECP for failing to announce poll dates. “The Constitution is unambiguous about the application of Article 6 against the offenders if they extend the 90-day term (for announcing polls),” he said, noting that the public was turning to the judiciary for justice.