PTI hails, JUI-F slams president’s move on polls date

The PTI core committee on Wednesday hailed President Arif Alvi for writing a letter to the chief election commissioner proposing November 6 as the date for general elections in the country whereas JUI-F slammed the move, saying giving timeframe of polls was not the prerogative of the president.

The former ruling party’s core committee placed the onus on the Supreme Court to deliver the ultimate verdict on the election date.

The committee was convened in response to Alvi's recent actions concerning the elections, a statement issued by the PTI said on Wednesday said.

The core committee noted that the president had “fulfilled his role” regarding the conduct of election under Article 48(5) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The statement added that it is “mandatory” for the SC to uphold its constitutional duty and ensure that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducts elections within the “constitutional limit of November 6.”

The committee hailed the president’s step saying, “people can now heave a sigh of relief” regarding their democratic right to vote.

The PTI believes that the recent developments have instilled hope among the masses that an elected government will soon assume office, paving the way for the formulation of a strategy to navigate the country out of its political and economic crises, the statement noted.

Speculation persists that the polls may exceed the constitutional 90-day limit due to the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ongoing delimitation process following the latest digital census.

On the contrary, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman fired a broadside at the president, saying giving date for polls was not the prerogative of the latter, and alleged that Alvi was a “biased president” as he represented a party.

“It is not the authority of the president to announce the date of polls. Even if president has the power, its use is based on malicious intent,” Fazl said.

The JUI-F chief noted that as Alvi represented a party he was a “biased president”.

He maintained that the ECP was not bound to obey the president’s orders or follow his advice as it was “itself an institution”.

On president’s advice that ECP may seek guidance from superior judiciary for the announcement of a single date for polls to the national and provincial assemblies, Fazl said Alvi had spoken about a court which was “supporting Imran Khan and PTI”.

“President has thrown the ball in judiciary’s [court] and the judiciary in president’s,” the JUI-F chief said.
Fazl alleged that Alvi was trying to create chaos in the country and that an attempt had been made to influence the electoral matters.

“Which forces are supporting the president who want to create political instability in the country?” he questioned.

“This is an attempt to create discontent among institutions but the effort will not succeed.”

He said the authority to announce date for elections rested neither with the judiciary nor with the president or the prime minister but with the election supervisor.