President invites ECP chief to fix appropriate date for elections

President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja to hold a meeting with him to fix an “appropriate date” for the general elections.

In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) chief, the president informed CEC Raja that it is liable to him to appoint a date for the elections under Article 48 (5) of the Constitution no later than 90 from the date of dissolution of the assembly.

“Foregoing in view, the chief election commissioner is invited for a meeting with the president today or tomorrow to fix an appropriate date,” stated the letter.

The president said the National Assembly was dissolved on the advice of the Prime Minister on August 2023.

“And Whereas by virtue of Article 48 (5) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is obliged to appoint a date not later than ninety days from the date of dissolution for the holding of the General Election of Assembly,” the letter stated.

A copy of the letter was posted on the Presidency’s account on X (formerly Twitter).

Since the NA was dissolved three days before the end of its constitutional term, Article 224 of the Constitution mandates that elections be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly.