ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday asked President Arif Alvi to use “better choice of words” during his address to the constitutional bodies – after the Supreme Commander called on Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. Called for an “urgent meeting” regarding the elections.
In his letter to the President, CEC Raja said: “I wish to draw your attention to the constitutional obligations of the Election Commission of Pakistan under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Elections Act, 2017.”
The statement said that under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, it is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission to hold and conduct elections.
Referring to the first two paragraphs of the President’s letter, the CEC said the commission was doing its “level best” to carry out its constitutional duties “without duress or fear”.
He said the ECP has contacted the governors of both the provinces – Balighur Rehman of Punjab and Shah Farman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – to fix the date of provincial elections on January 24.
The commission also claimed that it had issued reminders to the two governors on January 29.
More to follow…