The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to request President Dr Arif Alvi to set a date for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly election if the consultation process with Governor Haji Ghulam Ali proves to be unproductive today.
In accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive in its decision in the suo motu case earlier this month, the governor will hold a second round of discussions with the ECP in Islamabad.
In its decision on March 1 in the election date suo motu case, the top court had mandated that the K-P governor announce the date of the provincial assembly elections after consulting with the ECP. An ECP team visited Peshawar last week to meet with the governor in this regard, but they were unable to agree on a time. On March 13, both parties decided to get together once more in Islamabad.
Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for the ECP, is also anticipated to take part in the consultation with Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to decide the election date.
A meeting with the governor is scheduled for Monday, according to sources within the ECP, and more information will be available after that meeting. The ECP has the authority to refer the matter to the president if the governor does not provide a date at tomorrow’s consultative meeting.
The election date must be announced within 90 days, a senior ECP officer stressed. The days elapsed may be adjusted in accordance with Article 254 of the Constitution if the announcement of the date is delayed for any reason.
Although the law and order situation in the province is not ideal, Governor Ali has expressed concern about the security situation in the region. The security agencies have also expressed concern. He has emphasised that consultations will be held while taking the current situation into consideration.
Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ordered the dissolution of the K-P Assembly on January 18. Elections were to take place within 90 days of the dissolution.
Yet no election date has been set, despite 56 days having passed since the dissolution. Political analysts are concerned about the delay and wonder whether the ECP meeting on Monday will be able to set a date.
.It is crucial to remember that the K-P elections are very important for the nation and that, depending on the results, the political environment in Pakistan could change significantly. The opposition parties want to unseat the PTI, the current ruling party in K-P, while the PTI is running for re-election.
People who want to exercise their democratic right to vote are agitated by the delay in announcing the election date. The election date must therefore be announced in accordance with the Constitution as soon as possible after the situation has been resolved.
