Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday announced April 9 as the date for elections for the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.
According to a press release issued by the President’s Secretariat’s Press Wing, the announcement of the election date was made under Section 57 (1) of Elections Act, 2017.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) turned down President Dr Arif Alvi’s invitation for consultations on dates for elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies.
The ECP, in a letter to the President office with the signatures of ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan, said the chief election commissioner could not meet Dr Alvi as the matter is pending before various judicial forums. The final decision regarding the consultation with the president will be taken by the commission in its meeting on Monday (today), it added.
“The commission after deliberation has directed the undersigned to convey that the commission is well aware of its constitutional and legal obligations and has already conveyed its response to the earlier letter, dated February 8, 2023 explaining the complete background,” the letter read.
It pointed out that Article 105, read with Article 112 of the Constitution, provides the procedure for announcement of poll date in case of dissolution of the provincial assemblies.