President Dr Arif Alvi has invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for an urgent meeting on February 20 regarding consultations on a date for elections on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, APP reported on Friday.
The meeting, to be held at the President’s House, will discuss Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017 which provides that the President shall announce the date or dates of the general elections after consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In his letter to the CEC, the President said that since his letter dated 8th February, some substantial developments (e.g., the Judgment of the Honorable Lahore High Court and recent observations of the Honorable Supreme Court) took place.
ایکٹ کے تحت صدر مملکت عام انتخابات کی تاریخ یا تاریخوں کا اعلان کمیشن سے مشاورت کے بعد کریں گے، صدر مملکت کا خط
اس معاملے پر لاہور ہائی کورٹ کے فیصلے اور سپریم کورٹ کے حالیہ مشاہدات جیسی کچھ اہم پیش رفت ہوئی ، صدر مملکت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 17, 2023
He expressed displeasure over the apathy and inaction on the part of the Commission that didn’t respond to his earlier letter as yet.
The President stated that he had waited anxiously that the ECP would realize its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly but was extremely dismayed by the commission’s poignant approach on this important matter.
In his letter, the President once again reminded the ECP that being conscious of his constitutional responsibility of preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution, he was inviting CEC for the meeting on February 20 at his office to consult on the date or dates of the general elections.
