ISLAMABAD:
A delegation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reached the President House to hold consultations with President Dr Arif Alvi regarding the final date for polls.
The meeting comes hours after the Supreme Court (SC) gave the electoral watchdog until tomorrow to inform it of the date after consulting with the president regarding the matter.
The delegation comprises Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, and all provincial chiefs, as well as DG law.
As per the ECP secretary, the meeting will discuss the final date for polls following which a reply will be submitted to the apex court.
Separately, the electoral watchdog also held an emergency meeting in which it discussed the change in circumstances following the apex court’s instructions.
Read SC issues notices to ECP, Federation
According to sources, the ECP huddle discussed the upcoming meeting with the president and the date for polls in the country. The lawyer representing the electoral body in the apex court was also consulted on the stance the ECP will take in court.
Participants of the meeting included the CEC, secretary ECP, the legal team and others.
Final date
Earlier today, the SC directed the ECP to confer with the president and finalize election date after electoral body proposed February 11 as polling day.
It further directed the ECP to consult with the president today, instructed the attorney general of Pakistan to facilitate the meeting and directed the relevant bodies to submit the final date in court tomorrow (Friday).
The announcement of the finalized date for general elections will be made from the apex court, remarked Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.
A three-member bench led by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing on pleas moved by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Ibadur Rehman Lodhi seeking elections within the 90-day time period after the dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies.
Source link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2444317/cec-sultan-reaches-president-house-for-polls-date-consultation