President Dr. Arif Alvi engaged in discussions related to election matterswith the caretaker Law Minister, Ahmed Irfan Aslam, on Monday. During thismeeting, he emphasized the importance of making decisions that align withthe spirit of the Constitution. This conversation took place atAiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad, where President Alvi underscored the need touphold the supremacy of the Constitution, as stated in a Presidency-issuedstatement.
The meeting becomes significant against the backdrop of varying stancestaken by the President, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),political parties, and other stakeholders regarding the timing of thegeneral elections and the authority responsible for determining the finalpoll date. The ECP has ruled out elections for the current year, while the90-day limit for conducting polls after the dissolution of the NationalAssembly, as mandated by Article 224 of the Constitution, concludes onNovember 9. The ECP’s rationale for postponing elections beyond this datehinges on the notification of results from the new digital 2023 census andSection 17(2) of the Elections Act, which mandates constituencydelimitation after each official census publication.
In a recent development, President Alvi invited Chief ElectionCommissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for a meeting aimed at “fixing anappropriate date” for the general elections. In his letter to the CEC, thePresident cited Article 244 of the Constitution, asserting his duty toensure elections are conducted within the prescribed 90-day period upon thepremature dissolution of the National Assembly. However, a recent amendmentto the Elections Act 2017 has conferred the authority to unilaterallyannounce poll dates to the ECP without needing consultation with thePresident.
Responding to the President’s invitation, the CEC referenced thislegislative change, downplaying the importance of their meeting to decidethe election date. Subsequently, President Alvi sought advice from the lawministry on the matter, and the ministry communicated that the power toannounce the poll date rested with the Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) after he sought its counsel.
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Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar echoed a similar viewpoint duringhis first interview in office. He emphasized that, according to the law,determining the date for general elections was the prerogative of the ECP.However, he added that the caretaker government would comply with anybinding judgment issued by the Supreme Court, requiring elections to beheld within the prescribed 90-day period.
