ECP being unconstitutionally pressurised to get poll dates: Marriyum

• Marriyum says President already violated constitution
• Minister said ECP was a constitutional institution
• She urged president office should be loyal to Constitution

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb Monday said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was being pressurised unconstitutionally to get a date of the elections.

In a statement, the minister said the Election Commission of Pakistan was a constitutional institution and no one would be allowed to transform it into Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Tiger Force.

She urged that the office of President Arif Alvi should be loyal to the Constitution and any violation could invoke Article 6.

The minister said the office of the President did not allow favouring of any particular political party.

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Marriyum alleged that President Arif Alvi had already violated the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly illegally last year.

According to the interpretation of the Supreme Court, the office of the President was symbolic, Marriyum Aurangzeb said and pointed that as per Supreme Court verdicts, any collusion with a political party was a violation of the office and oath of the president.

Meanwhile, the ECP on Monday decided not to attend consultation meeting of President Arif Alvi on elections, Bol News reported.

The ECP said its officials would not attend the meeting at the President House in Islamabad. The ECP said the matter of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was sub judice at different courts. The ECP upholds its previous decision, it added.

The commission said it was prerogative of the provincial governors to announce date for provincial assembly elections, therefore, they would only meet the governors.

The election body held to a consultative meeting on Monday, to decide whether to accept or reject the invitation made by Presidency to discuss dates for holding provincial assembly elections.