• ECP said its officials would not attend the meeting
• It is prerogative of governors to announce the election date
• The ECP upholds its previous decision, it added.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (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.

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ECP refuses to consult with President Alvi over poll date

ECP has excused itself from holding consultations with President Alvi ECP said...

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.

According to a notification, the meeting was summoned by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

In a letter written to the President Secretariat, the election commission said it may not be able to enter into a process of consultation with the Presidency, as the matter was subjudice at various judicial fora.

On February 19, the ECP had excused itself from holding consultations with President Arif Alvi on the date of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

President Alvi had summoned the chief election commissioner for an “urgent meeting” on February 20 (Monday) to hold consultations on the election date.

A letter issued by the ECP secretary to the president’s secretary had read the ECP cannot join the consultation for the time being as the matter was under judicial consideration.

The election commission had said it will not be able to enter into a process of consultation with the president due to the “matter being subjudice at various judicial fora” and several other reasons.