The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has responded to President Arif Alvi’s letter and expressed serious reservations over the use of words in his letter. The ECP reportedly objected that it was not appropriate on the part of the President to use words like “indifference” to describe the ECP’s attitude.
According to sources, the ECP has written back to the president on Saturday. In its reply, the commission said that it is an autonomous and independent institution, which abides by the law and constitution. The commission also respects and complies completely with the court orders, its reply added.
Sources said that the ECP was dismayed and disappointed that the President wrote such inappropriate words for the commission. It reiterated that the commission was fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities in the best possible manner.
The ECP said that it has decided to participate in the meeting called by the President. ECP commissioners and senior officials would attend the meeting at the President House at 11am on Monday.
President Alvi wrote two letters to the Election Commission of Pakistan inviting it for consultations on polls for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. The latest letter was written on Friday to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja in which the President invited him for an emergency meeting on February 20 at the President House regarding consultation on elections under Section 57(1).
“Under the Act, the President shall announce the date or dates of general elections after consultation with the election commission,” the letter read, adding that “there have been some important developments like the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the recent observations of the Supreme Court on this matter”.
The President had expressed his displeasure on the indifference of the ECP, as the commission had not yet responded to his first letter.
