ECP to propose election date to Governor KP, President

• ECP has decided to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict
• ECP will write a letter to Governor KP, President on election date
• SC directed KP governor to appoint election date after consulting ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formulated a strategy on conducting elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The decision was made by the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that elections must be held within ninety days. The election commission has decided to implement the apex’s court decision.

The election commission has decided to visit the President’s House and consult the president on holding elections and giving a date for the polls in the province.

The election commission will decide tomorrow (Thursday) on the election date. In this, regard, a meeting will be held at 11 AM to discuss the future course of action.

Sources revealed the meeting will hold consultation about writing a letter to the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the President.

The election commission will propose election dates to the President and Governor KP tomorrow, sources added. The election date will be suggested by election commission.

The Supreme Court ruled that elections for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies should be held within 90 days. The direction was given by the apex court in the suo motu notice verdict announced by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

A five-member bench headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and Justice Jamal Mandokhail heard the petition for two consecutive days.

In a 3-2 split decision, two of the bench members objected to the admissibility of the pleas. Justice Mandokhail and Justice Shah have dissented from the majority verdict.

The apex court noted that there are “different aspects and requirements” for holding polls  but ruled that one thing that was “absolutely crucial is the timeframe” for the polls.

It added that Constitution envisages holding polls within 60 days in case the assembly is dissolved after its term is completed and within 90 days in case the assembly is dissolved before the expiry of its term.

The top court held that in situations where a governor dissolved a provincial assembly, the constitutional responsibility of appointing a date for the election was to be discharged by the governor.

In situations where the assembly is not dissolved by order of the governor, the constitutional responsibility of appointing a date for the general election is to be discharged by the president, the court ruled.

Regarding the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, the court said the constitutional responsibility for appointing a date for the general election was to be discharged by the president as the governor had refused to sign on the assembly dissolution summary.

With regards to the dissolution of the KP Assembly, the court said the constitutional responsibility for appointing a date for elections was to be discharged by the governor.

The Supreme Court directed the KP governor to appoint a date for elections in the province after consulting the ECP.

Also Read

Govt not to file review petition against SC ruling

Government not to file review petition against SC ruling The meeting was...