The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Dr Arif Alvi reached a consensus on Thursday to hold general elections in the country on February 8.
According to the statement issued by the electoral watchdog, the consensus was reached in a meeting of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and President Dr Arif Alvi.
The President’s House has also issued a statement on the agreed-upon date of the elections. The delegation of the ECP visited President House for the meeting on the orders of the Supreme Court, the statement said.
Earlier, in a letter written to the president, Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja emphasized the need to address the Supreme Court’s order dated November 2, 2023.
The court had dismissed constitutional petition no. 32 and 36 while permitting the Chief Minister’s Appeal Nos. 118 and 119 of 2023, leading to important decisions regarding the general elections.
The letter conveys the importance of deciding on the date for the general elections in Pakistan following consultations between the electoral watchdog and the President of Pakistan.
To facilitate this process, the Attorney General of Pakistan will organize a meeting, presenting the court’s order of October 23, 2023, and the recent Supreme Court order. It is expected that a final decision on the election date will be reached, with notification to the Supreme Court on Friday, November 3, 2023.
The Commission, after thorough deliberation, has proposed the date of February 11, 2024, for the general elections of the National and Provincial Assemblies to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions.
