Islamabad (Web Desk): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday said that general elections are not possible before October this year as ECP needs seven months to ensure free, fair, and transparent polls in the country.
According to ECP Spokesperson, the commission, in its reply to the President of Pakistan, has contended that it requires four months to complete the delimitations in addition to organise general elections in 90 days.
The ECP further said that keeping these reasons in view, possibility of elections is only possible in October 2022.
On Wednesday, President Dr Arif Alvi wrote to the ECP to propose dates to hold general elections within 90 days will be held within 90 days following the dissolution of the National Assembly.
"In a letter dated April 5, 2022 addressed to ECP, the President’s Secretariat asked to propose date(s) for holding general elections within 90 days from the date of dissolution of the National Assembly, April 3, 2022, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan," the President House said in a statement.
The letter mentioned that ECP has been conveyed that clause 5 (A) of the Article 48 and clause 2 of Article 224 of the Constitution provide that the President shall appoint a date, not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of the National Assembly, for holding general elections to the National Assembly.
"In order to carry out the mandate of the Constitution of announcing the date of general elections, consultation with the Election Commission is required under Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017," the letter stated.
The development comes after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri threw out a no-confidence motion against PM Imran and the president dissolved the lower house of Parliament on the former's advice on April 3.
The SC is currently hearing the matter to decide the legality of the deputy speaker's ruling and the subsequent actions and orders of the prime minister and the president.
