CEC’s Response To President Alvi’s letter

Islamabad – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has responded, stating that President Arif Alvi does not have the authority to set a date for the next general elections, as the National Assembly was dissolved based on the prime minister’s advice.

In his letter, the head of the electoral body also noted an amendment to Section 57 of the Elections Act in June 2023, which grants the Commission the power to announce election dates.

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The CEC clarified that while the president can set an election date when dissolving the National Assembly at his discretion, if dissolution is carried out on the prime minister’s advice or due to the passage of time, then the Commission holds the exclusive authority to determine election dates.

The letter comes after President Alvi invited Sikandar Sultan Raja for a meeting to determine a date for general elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had decided to redo constituency delimitation following the new digital census, indicating that elections might extend beyond the constitutionally mandated 90-day period.

The National Assembly of Pakistan was prematurely dissolved on August 9, and elections must be held within 90 days as per the Constitution.

In his letter, the president cited Article 48(5) of the Constitution, outlining his responsibility to appoint an election date within 90 days of dissolution.