ECP lawyer says general elections on Feb 11

ISLAMABAD: Although indirectly, but it looks like the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has marked Feburary 11, 2024 as the final date for holding general elections in Pakistan.

The ECP’s counsel on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the general elections will be held across the country on February 11. The date was shared during the hearing of petitions calling for timely polls across the country. 

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard the case.

The Supreme Court Bar Association, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others have filed multiple applications against the decision of Council of Common Interest (CCI) as well as the delay in holding general elections beyond the constitutional time of 90 days.

The ECP officials, the attorney general, PTI counsel Ali Zafar and PPP’s Farooq H. Naek appeared before the court.

Barrister Zafar, in his arguments, said that his only supplication is that general elections should be held in 90 days.

At the outset of the hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawyer Farooq Naek informed the apex court that his party had submitted the request to become a party in the case.

After this, PTI’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar launched his arguments by saying that the party has limited its petition to only seeking timely elections. “Elections must be held within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies as per the Constitution,” he stressed.

At this, CJP Isa said that the plea seeking polls within a 90-day period has then become ineffective. “The court was told that it was impossible to hold polls within 90 days in the previous hearing,” he remarked.

Ali Zafar then said that PTI only wants elections, adding there won’t be any parliament and law if elections are not conducted.

“Giving a date and schedule of elections are two different things. President Dr Arif Alvi had written a letter to hold consultations with the ECP,” he remarked.

The CJP observed that the president had written in his letter that the court should look into the matter of elections. “Is the president saying that court should take notice of the issue pertaining to elections?” he questioned.

Ali Zafar replied that the president had said that the court can also review the matter.

CJP Isa then said that the president did not give any date for elections in his letter. “Did the president not fulfil his constitutional duty?” he asked.

Ali Zafar said that the president fulfilled his responsibility by consulting on the elections.

On this point, Justice Athar Minallah asked why the president wrote the letter in September and not on August 15 after the assemblies were dissolved on August 9.

“Did the president only ask the Supreme Court verbally to take notice of the matter?” asked the CJP, saying the head of state wrote the letter to the ECP and not to the Supreme Court.

CJP Isa then questioned whether the apex court had the authority to give a date for polls. “Is it necessary for the president to consult the prime minister to give a date?” he inquired.

Ali Zafar replied that consultations are not necessary as the president has his own constitutional duty to give a date.

Meanwhile, Justice Minallah said, “The command of the Constitution is very clear that the president had to give the date [for elections], there is no disagreement in it.”

Justice Minallah said nothing is important than knowing masses’ opinion.

More to follow