K-P governor's ‘language’ in letter irks ECP

Commission asks Ghulam Ali to hold consultations at its secretariat

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has expressed its reservations over the choice of words used by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali in his letter to the electoral watchdog, sources said on Tuesday.

The sources added that the commission was irked by the governor giving it “instructions” in the letter. They further said the commission was an autonomous and constitutional body. It was not subordinate to the governor.

The sources added that the governor’s job was to give a date for the elections in line with the Supreme Court’s order and Constitution.

In his letter, the K-P governor sought a consultation meeting with the commission before proposing a date for holding the elections in the province.

He said that this was carried out in line with the SC's directions for consultations between the ECP and K-P governor before deciding a date for the provincial polls.

Ali wrote in the letter that his office was cognisant of the “dictum and directions” issued by the Supreme Court in the suo moto case and that “the governor was obligated to honour it in letter and spirit”.

“Consequently, the ECP is welcome to attend the office of undersigned on 7th and 8th March at 11:30am, whichever is convenient so that an active and meaningful consultative process could be initiated,” the letter read.

Ali also quoted a relevant portion of the apex court’s verdict, which stated that the commission must be available for consultations with the president or governor in connection with the date for holding the elections.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ghulam Ali said he would review the entire situation and give the date of provincial assembly elections after the consultations with the ECP.

In response, the ECP wrote back that a team comprising its secretary, special secretary and DG (law) had been instructed by the commission to undertake the visit as per the governor's convenience.

However, it has also been “desired” that in case the K-P governor decided to visit the ECP Secretariat [in Islamabad], it would be an honour for the commission, it continued.

In that case, the commission would directly engage with the governor for meaningful consultations, it added.

The SC recently announced a 3-2 split decision to hold elections in K-P and Punjab within 90 days.

These provinces are under caretaker governments after their assemblies were dissolved in January.

The PTI, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, controlled the assemblies, and Imran 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 SC intervened and investigated which government institution was responsible for setting the election dates.

In its written ruling, the top court stated that if a provincial assembly was dissolved, the responsibility of setting the election date rested with the governor.