President Alvi’s letter: ECP summons meeting

• ECP summons meeting after letter of the President
• President sent letter to ECP regarding polls in Punjab, KP
• The meeting will discuss the constitutional status of letter

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday summoned a consultative meeting of the body after receiving the President’s letter in regard to elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting will be held at 11:30 am today and the chief election commissioner is reaching Islamabad for the session.

The meeting will deliberate on the announcement of elections by the President and the constitutional and legal status of the move.

Meanwhile, the sources in the know have revealed that the President’s letter will be declared unconstitutional by the commission.

Notably, 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 said he 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.

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