President Alvi announces Punjab, KP elections on April 9

• President Dr Arif Alvi  announced the election date in Punjab, KP
• The president said elections should be held on April 9
• He exercised his power under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday announced the election date in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on April 9.

The president announced the date by exercising his power under Section 57 (1) (notification of election programme) of the Elections Act, 2017. He further asked the electoral body to issue an election schedule in accordance with Section 57 (2) of the Act.

The President Secretariat’s Press Wing issued a statement quoting a letter sent by President Alvi to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

The president said he was was “under oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” under Article 42 (oath of president). He defended his announcement by adding that there was “no impediment in invoking the power and authority vested in him” as there was no restraining order from judicial forums.

He said he had “felt it necessary to perform his constitutional and statutory duty to announce the date of elections to avoid the infringement and breach of the Constitution and law i.e. holding of elections not later than ninety days”.

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صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی نے پنجاب اور خیبر پختونخواہ میں انتخابات کی تاریخ دے دی

صدر مملکت نے الیکشن ایکٹ 2017 ء کے سیکشن 57 ایک کے تحت 9 اپریل بروز اتوار پنجاب اور خیبر پختونخواہ کی صوبائی اسمبلیوں کیلئے انتخابات کا اعلان کردیاhttps://t.co/Gr3iBpm8L2

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 20, 2023

The president complained that the governors of Punjab and KP were “not performing their constitutional duties for appointing an election date” not later than ninety days from the date of dissolution” of the provincial assemblies.

He added that the ECP was also not fulfilling its constitutional obligation for holding polls for the assemblies. “Both the constitutional offices are placing the ball in each other’s court … resulting in delay and creating a serious danger that constitutional provisions may be violated,” the president said.

He pointed out that ECP has already indicated the possible dates of elections to the constitutional functionaries showing its own responsibility of holding the elections within ninety days.

The president further said that he had initiated a serious consultation process with the ECP under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017 to announce the date for the general elections. However, the ECP replied that the commission could not participate in a meeting on the subject matter with the president.

Last week, the president had summoned Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for an urgent meeting on February 20 for consultation regarding the election date. The election commission excused itself from holding consultations with President Alvi, saying that the matter was under judicial consideration.

“Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred upon me under Section 57 (1) of Elections Act, 2017, I, hereby, announce the date of 9th April, 2023 (Sunday) for holding of general elections of the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Election Commission of Pakistan is obliged under the law to issue ElectionProgramme in accordance with Section 57 (2) of Elections Act, 2017,” the statement concluded.

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