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Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), criticized President Dr. Arif Alvi for proposing the date of the general elections, alleging that he was advocating for a political party rather than the government.
Maulana Fazl criticises President Alvi: The PDM president claimed in a statement that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and not the President had the right to announce the date of the general elections.
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman accuse Arif Alvi of representing a political party rather than the government, and he added that the president’s use of authority appear to be motivate by personal animosity.”
He asserted that the election commission was not required to follow the president’s advice or directive. He continued, “He [President Alvi] has tried to undermine the legal framework of the nation.
According to Maulana Fazl, a “futile debate” was an attempt to sway the outcome of the election. Which organisations support the President and want political unrest? Asking, Fazlur Rehman.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner earlier in the day, President Arif Alvi offered November 6, 2023, as the date for Pakistan’s general elections.
President Arif Alvi pointed out that the Prime Minister advised the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9, 2023, and that the Constitution of Pakistan grants the president the authority to announce a date for general elections “no later than ninety days from the date of the dissolution (of the assembly).” As a result, the elections must occur on the eighty-ninth day following the dissolution of the Assembly, which falls on Monday, November 6, 2023.
The months-long argument over who has the authority to announce the election date—the President or the ECP—has come to a head with the declaration.
“ECP Asserts Autonomy in Determining Election Date Despite Presidential Invitation”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) respects President Arif Alvi, but there is no need for consultation on the election date in accordance with the Election Amendment Act. The presidency can announce the election date when it dissolves the assembly, but ECP operates autonomously. President Arif Alvi invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to discuss the date for general elections on August 23.
Additionally, the Ministry of Law informed President Arif Alvi last week that, “following the amendment to the Elections Act,” he has no influence over the announcement of the election date.
In order to get feedback on the ECP position that “only it had the authority to decide the election date,” the law ministry forwarded its answer to President Arif Alvi’s letter.
The Law Ministry stated in the letter that the ECP has the authority to announce the election date.