ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Dr. Arif Alvi has invited the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan Sikandar Sultan Raja for an urgent meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on February 20 for consultation in terms of Section 57(1) of Elections Act, 2017 that provides that the President shall announce the date or dates of the general elections after consultation with the Commission (ECP).
In his letter to the CEC, the president said that since his letter dated 08th February, some substantial developments (e.g., the Judgment of the Honourable Lahore High Court (LHC) and recent observations of the Honourable Supreme Court) had taken place.
President Arif Alvi expressed displeasure over the apathy and inaction on the part of the Commission that didn’t respond to his earlier letter as yet.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا چیف الیکشن کمشنر کو خط
صدر مملکت کی چیف الیکشن کمشنر کو انتخابات سے متعلق ہنگامی اجلاس کی دعوت
صدر مملکت کی سکندر سلطان راجہ کو 20 فروری 2023 کو ایوان صدر میں سیکشن 57 ایک کے تحت الیکشنز کے حوالے سے مشاورت کے لیے دعوت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 17, 2023
The president stated that he had waited anxiously that the Commission would realize its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly but he was extremely dismayed by ECP’s poignant approach on this important matter.
In his letter, the president once again reminded the ECP that being conscious of his constitutional responsibility of preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution, he was inviting the CEC for an urgent meeting on February 20, 2023 in his office to consult on the date or dates of the general elections.
