ISLAMABAD – President Arif Alvi on Monday announced a schedule for general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwas as the electoral body and governors of the provinces could not announced a date despite dissolution of the assemblies in January.
The development comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) excused itself from participating in a meeting called by the president to discuss the election date.
“The Governors of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not performing their constitutional duties for appointing a date, not later than ninety days from the date of dissolution of Provincial Assemblies as per the Constitution of Pakistan. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is also not fulfilling its constitutional obligation for holding polls for the Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both the constitutional offices are placingthe ball in each other’s court, resulting in delay and creating a serious danger that constitutional provisions may be violated,” the president said in a letter sent to the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
