Election date isn’t your job CEC declines to meet President

US to support Pakistan in holding polls as per law, Constitution: ambassador

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has decided ‘against’ meeting President Alvi on his invitation to discuss the general election date,

The decision was reportedly taken during a meeting of the ECP to discuss the legal and constitutional options in line with the president’s letter.

According to the briefing of the legal team, the CEC was advised not to ‘consult’ President Alvi on the election date as after the Election Amendment Act, there is no need for such consultation.

After the briefing, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja decided ‘against’ meeting the president and wrote a letter to him.

The letter stated the ECP respects President Arif Alvi, but there is no need for consultation on the election date as per the Election Amendment Act.

The president can announce the election date when the assembly is dissolved by the presidency, however, ECP is autonomous in announcing the date, the letter read.

It maybe noted that President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja for a meeting to decide the date of general elections.

In the letter President wrote that he dissolved the National Assembly on August 09 on the advice of the prime minister. “President is bound to give the date of general elections, being held within 90 days after dissolution of the assembly under the Article 48-V,” the President wrote in the letter.

While

US Ambassador Donald Blome has met with the chief election commissioner and assured him of his country’s support for the general elections.

According to a spokesman, Ambassador Blome met with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and told him that choosing their future leaders is the right of the Pakistani people. The ambassador also assured of the US’s support for conducting elections according to the Constitution and law.

Mr Blome said the two countries will continue to work to strengthen their relations.The US will continue to work with the elected representatives of the Pakistani people, he added.

A day ago,

Come and fix the election date President Alvi invites ECP chief