Pakistan
President Alvi asks ECP to announce elections date
He wrote in the letter that elections should be conducted within 90 days of assembly’s dissolution.
Islamabad: President Dr. Arif Alvi Wednesday asked Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately announce the date of the election in the country, writing a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.
President said that the constitution does not allow delay in election, adding that, “If the election commission fails to fulfill its duties, it will be held responsible and accountable for the violation of the constitution”.
Arif Alvi reminded the Chief Election Commissioner about the basic responsibility according to the oath under the Constitution, Article 224(2) of the Constitution insists on conducting elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies. The Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies were dissolved on January 14 and January 18 respectively.
President Arif Alvi's letter to ECP refers to the dissolution of the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to announce the date of immediate elections.
He said that Election Commission should announce the elections to eliminate speculation based propaganda.
The President stated that the Commission has taken a constitutional step by announcing by-elections in various constituencies of the National Assembly.
The president referred to former American President Abraham Lincoln and said that the United States held elections in 1812 despite the war with Great Britain, adding that, “They did not think to postpone the elections even during the civil war in 1864”. The old democracies of the world held elections even during wars.