The President and the Chief Election Commissioner agreed on general elections across the country on February 8

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja met President Dr. Arif Alvi in ​​the light of the Supreme Court’s order, where it was agreed to hold general elections in the country on February 8. Met with President Dr. Arif Alvi, before that…

In a statement issued by the President’s Office on the social media website X, it was said that on today’s order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Sikandar Sultan Raja, Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Along with four members met the President Dr. Arif Alvi in ​​the President’s House.

The statement said that “in the meeting, the date for holding the next general elections in the country was discussed and the President of the country heard the progress made by the Election Commission regarding constituencies and elections”.

In the meeting, the date for holding the next general elections in the country was discussed

The President criticized the progress made by the Election Commission regarding constituencies and elections

After a detailed discussion, the meeting unanimously agreed to hold general elections in the country on February 8, 2024.

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 2, 2023

The President’s House said that ‘after a detailed discussion, it has been unanimously agreed in the meeting to hold the general elections in the country on February 8, 2024’.

Earlier, the Chief Election Commissioner had written a letter to the President regarding the date of general elections and suggested general elections on February 11.

In a letter to the President Dr. Arif Alvi, he said that I want to draw your attention to the order given by the Supreme Court today, in which it was said that the Election Commission should meet the President today and the general public in the country. Determine the date of elections.

The decision of the Supreme Court has said that in this regard, the Attorney General should arrange this meeting and deliver the order of the court dated October 23, 2023 and today to the President and be available for cooperation.

The court had said that we expect a date for the general elections to be given and the court will be informed tomorrow (November 3).

The Chief Election Commissioner had told the President in a letter that in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission after consultation recommends February 11, 2024 as the date for the general elections of the National and Provincial Assemblies.

It should be noted that a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, comprising Justice Athar Minullah and Justice Aminuddin Khan, during the hearing on the petitions filed to hold general elections in the country within 90 days, told the Election Commission of Pakistan. Consultation with the President was directed to fix the date of the general elections, while the lawyer of the Election Commission said that the elections will be held on February 11.

Election Commission of Pakistan lawyer Sujeel Swati told the court that the process of delimitation of constituencies will be completed by January 29, after which elections will be held on February 11.

Justice Athar Manullah had said that the Election Commission’s reply to the President was apparently against the Constitution. The Chief Justice said that the court would not enter into any correspondence. Issued, it is the responsibility of the President to give a date to hold the elections within 90 days.

Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that 90 days have not passed yet. Justice Athar Minullah said that it would be appropriate to first listen to the position of the Election Commission. How can the President announce the date without consulting the Election Commission? In the Council of Common Interests, the PPP opposed the constituencies?

Farooq Naik said that PPP did not oppose the delimitation of constituencies and census, Justice Athar Minullah said that all people including PPP are responsible for the delay in the elections. The court warned the counsel of the Election Commission to answer thoughtfully.

The Vakil Election Commission said that there is a schedule of 54 days after the constituencies, 3 to 5 days will be spent in the final lists, the final lists will be completed on December 5, counting 54 days from December 5, it will be January 29. I was looking for Sundays for people’s convenience, 4th February is the first Sunday while the second Sunday is 11th February.

Vakil Election Commission said that we decided on our own that the election should be held on February 11 Sunday.

Justice Athar Manullah said that there are forums for those who have to take action against the constitutional violation, the lawyer Election Commission said that elections will be held after constituencies.

Justice Athar Manullah said that the Election Commission rewrote the constitution without consulting the President. The Chief Justice said that the President is on board. are not bound.

The Supreme Court expressed indignation for not consulting the President before giving the date. The Chief Justice said that the President is also a Pakistani and the Election Commission is also a Pakistani. Why is the Election Commission hesitant to consult the President?

The Chief Justice remarked that even if they do not call you, you should still knock on their door.

It should be remembered that on September 21, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced that the general elections in the country will be held in the last week of January 2024.

In the announcement issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, it was said that after reviewing the work of the constituencies, the Election Commission decided that the preliminary list of constituencies will be published on September 27, 2023.

The announcement said that the final list of constituencies will be published on November 30 after hearing the objections and suggestions on the preliminary constituencies.

The Election Commission had further said that after the 54-day election program, the elections will be held in the last week of January 2024.

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami and the Supreme Court Bar Association had filed petitions in the Supreme Court for a date to hold general elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.

In the petition filed under Article 184/3 of the Constitution by the then president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Abid Shahid Zuberi, the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to hold general elections in 90 days and conduct elections under new constituencies was also mentioned. What was the challenge?

In the petition filed in the Supreme Court, a position has been taken that the ongoing notification should be declared illegal in the light of the decision of the Council of Common Interests. The formation of the Council of Common Interests was not constitutional.