The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) filed a notification with the Supreme Court on Friday announcing the date of the national general elections, which will take place on February 8, 2024.
SC declares date for elections: A three-member bench of the supreme court heard many appeals for elections within the ninety-day term following the dissolution of the national and provincial parliament.
Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan delivered the electoral body’s notification of the election to the three-judge bench, which consists of Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Athar Minallah, and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, during the hearing today.
In accordance with Article 57(1) of the Elections Act and any other authorities that permit it, “the Election Commission of Pakistan hereby announces February 8, 2024 as the poll date for the general elections,” the announcement said.
“Every respondent has expressed their consent,” the CJP stated.
He further stated that the dispute between the president and the ECP was “unnecessarily brought to court.”
The CJP added that the lack of an election date caused worry throughout the nation. “There were also concerns that there wouldn’t be any elections at all,” he stated.
CJP Isa further directed the federal and provincial governments to follow the electoral process.
Ali Zafar urged the court to include a statement “declaring elections as mandatory” throughout the hearings, citing February 8 as the pivotal date. “God willing, elections will be held on February 8,” the CJP responded.
CEC-President meeting
CJP Isa gave the ECP instructions on Thursday to confer with President Alvi over the election schedule and notify the highest court.
When CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja met with the president in accordance with the SC’s directions, all parties decided to hold national elections on February 8, 2024.
President Dr. Arif Alvi received “three dates” from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the general elections in 2024.
The delegation led by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and President Dr. Arif Alvi met for an hour at the President’s House.
President Alvi received three dates from the commission for the general elections in 2024. Sources have recommended the president as a candidate for the general polls on January 28, February 4, and February 11.
After the meeting with the president, the ECP delegation arrived in the Central Secretariat. Members of the CEC and delegation, however, declined to address the media about their meeting with the president.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) formally declared February 8 as the election date a few hours after the meeting.