ECP to give final election date, Supreme Court
ECP convenes emergency meeting in light of Supreme Court direction,
Islamabad,Next general elections will take place in the country on February 8, next year, according to a communique released by the Presidency late on Thursday evening.
The Election Commission of Pakistan also announced in a press release that next general elections would be conducted on February 8, 2024.
The ECP also made the announcement on social networking platform X, erstwhile Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ECP_Pakistan/status/1720099806700552246/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1720099806700552246%7Ctwgr%5Ea753ce81a4a70a4d1c41c831ef636690faff4a30%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdunyanews.tv%2Fen%2FPakistan%2F767588-General-elections-on-Feb-8-next-year%3A-Presidency—
During the hearing of the case of holding elections in 90 days, the Chief Justice said that the date given must be followed and there will be no hearing afterward.
The court also ordered the Attorney General to arrange the meeting of the Election Commission with the President.
Earlier in the hearing, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) informed the Supreme Court that general elections in Pakistan will be held on 11 February of next year.
Later, the court told the commission that once decided, the election date would be ‘set in stone’ and the court would ensure it is implemented.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court resumed hearing petitions calling for elections within 90 days on Thursday.
However, after a lengthy debate over the right of the president to give the election date, ECP’s lawyer told the court that elections were scheduled for February 11.
The lawyer added that the rules permitted polls 54 days after delimitations were announced. He added that the delimitations would be completed on December 5.
The Supreme Court ordered the ECP to consult with President Arif Alvi on the matter. However, the ECP lawyer said that the Commission was not bound to do so.
Justice Isa expressed displeasure at the ECP lawyer’s comments and ordered that the president should be consulted by 2:15 pm when the hearing resumed.
The CJP also remarked that the election date, once submitted, would be set in stone and the court would ensure it is implemented.
Led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the bench includes Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah.
Multiple petitions filed for elections within 90 days are being heard together. The petitioners include the Supreme Court Bar Association as well as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The case was last heard on October 23, where the bench had issued notices to the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan.
While,
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened the emergency consultation meeting in the light of the Supreme Court direction.
Sources said the legal team of the ECP would apprise the participants in the meeting of the apex court directions.
Earlier, hearing the case of holding general elections in 90 days, the Supreme Court directed the ECP to consult the president and swiftly announce the date which would be binding on all stakeholders.
Earlier, the ECP counsel stated before the apex court that elections would be held in Pakistan on Feb 11 and delimitation would be completed by Nov 30.
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