Governor invites ECP for poll consultation

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has summoned the officials of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for consultation on the date of general elections in the province.

Governor K-P, in his letter written to the ECP, has called the ECP officials on March 7 or 8 for consultation instead of announcing date for provincial assembly elections. The governor says he will give a date after consultation.

After the decision of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission had written a letter to Governor KP regarding the date of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elections, to which Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has responded.

Speaking to Express News, Ali said that he has called the officials to initiate an "active and meaningful consultative process" regarding the date of general elections in the province.

Ali said that he will review the entire situation and give the date of provincial assembly elections after consultation.

The Supreme Court recently announced a 3-2 split decision to hold elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab within 90 days. These provinces were under caretaker governments after their assemblies were dissolved in January. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former prime minister Imran Khan, controlled the assemblies, and Khan had asked the provincial governors to dissolve them in a bid to force early elections.

President Arif Alvi, who belongs to the PTI, announced April 9 as the election date for the two provinces on February 21, causing a constitutional crisis. Legal experts questioned whether the president had the authority to make such a decision. The Supreme Court intervened and investigated which government institution was responsible for setting the election dates.

In its written ruling, the Supreme Court stated that if a governor dissolves a provincial assembly, the responsibility of setting the election date lies with the governor.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has received a letter from the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) acknowledging the Supreme Court's verdict in Suo Moto case No. 01/2023 issued on March 1, 2023. The governor stated in the letter that he is obligated to follow the court's decision.

“The office of the undersigned is cognizant of the dictum and directions dated 1st March 2023 issued by the August Supreme Court of Pakistan in Suo Moto case No. 01/2023 and hence, the undersigned is obligated to honour it in letter and spirit,” the letter written by KP governor — which has been received by the ECP — read.

The governor also quoted a relevant portion of the apex court's verdict, which stated that the Election Commission must be available for consultation with the President or the Governor regarding the date for holding general elections. Therefore, the governor invited the Election Commission to attend his office on March 7th or 8th, 2023 at 11:00 am for a consultative process to initiate.