Disheartened by ECP, Alvi nudges caretakers on ‘timely polls’

Published September 5, 2023
President Dr Arif Alvi meets caretaker Federal Minister for Law and Justice Ahmed Irfan Aslam,on Monday.—Courtesy PID
President Dr Arif Alvi meets caretaker Federal Minister for Law and Justice Ahmed Irfan Aslam,on Monday.—Courtesy PID

ISLAMABAD: After finding the Election Commission unsympathetic to his request for an election date, Presi­dent Arif Alvi emphasised the need to holding elections in 90 days, during a meeting with caretaker Federal Minister for Law and Justice Ahmed Irfan Aslam on Monday.

President Alvi praised the caretaker prime min­ister’s resolve to act upon the apex court’s judgement on the matter.

A statement issued by the President’s secretariat said issues related to the holding of elections were discussed during the meeting.

President Alvi emphasised the need for uphol­ding the supremacy of the Constitution, adding that decisions should be taken in accordance with the spirit of the supreme law.

According to Article 224 of the Constitution, elections must be held within 90 days after dissolution of the National Assembly. This makes the general election due in November.

But since the delimitation exercise is unlikely to be completed before Nov 30, elections may be pushed back to late Jan­uary or early February.

According to sources, the Election Com­mission is considering ann­­o­uncing the poll sch­ed­ule before completion of the delimitation exercise.

The ECP had assured the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) last week that delimitation of the National Assembly constituencies and those of the provincial legislatures would be comple­ted “as soon as possible”.

The Muttahida delegation was led by Dr Farooq Sattar and that of the Jamaat by Ameerul Azeem.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja said after meeting the two delegations the ECP would consult all political parties before finalising a code of conduct for the polls. They suggested that the commission enforce a limit on election expenses by political parties, as well as candidates.

The MQM and the Jamaat expressed concern over unconfirmed reports that polls might be delayed.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

A year later
Updated 08 Feb, 2025

A year later

A war of egos has been fought between a handful of individuals at the cost of the well-being of millions of ordinary Pakistanis.
Wheat decision
08 Feb, 2025

Wheat decision

THE federal decision to stop setting the minimum support price for wheat and cease the staple’s procurement...
Dhanmondi attack
08 Feb, 2025

Dhanmondi attack

HISTORY has shown that unless states deliver development and equal rights to all, disenfranchised people can target...
Depopulating Gaza
Updated 07 Feb, 2025

Depopulating Gaza

The least feasible "solution" is the Trumpian plan for Gaza’s ethnic cleansing and occupation, which is a non-starter.
‘Pause’ in US aid
07 Feb, 2025

‘Pause’ in US aid

THE impact of the Trump administration’s decision to ‘pause’ all US foreign aid programmes, especially those...
Mobilising opposition
07 Feb, 2025

Mobilising opposition

POLITICS makes strange bedfellows. There has not, for quite some time, been a guest list as intriguing as the one...