A controversy surrounding a purely constitutional matter is searing by the hour following an exchange of letters between the President\u2019s office and the Election Commission of Pakistan over the holding of general elections to the provincial assemblies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces.
\nA letter by President Dr Arif Alvi, who is the head of the state, emphasizes that the dissolution of a provincial assembly can happen either under Article 105 or Article 112 and categorically states: \u201cIn either situation, the election of the Assembly is to be held within 90 days of the dissolution. Such a mandate stands further fortified by Article 224(2) emphasizing the holding of an election in 90 days. The conduct of elections is the primary and essential duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan as per PART VIII of the constitution- in particular Article 218 (3) casts a duty on the ECP to ensure the holding of fair and free election.\u201d
\nPresident Dr. Arif Alvi has written the letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, for the date of the elections. This is the second letter from the president to the chief election commissioner, in which he has expressed displeasure over the delay in announcing the date of the elections and invited the chief election commissioner for consultation on the issue. According to media reports, the Election Commission of Pakistan has written in its letter in response to the President\u2019s letter that the commission is an independent and constitutional institution, which is bound to follow the process of consultation between the President and the Chief Election Commissioner under Article 57(1) of the Constitution.
\nThe political and economic condition of the country aggravates with each passing day. The fresh mini-budget presented by the government in the National Assembly has already triggered a staggering price spiral. In such a situation, the only way to eliminate the possibility of new social and legal conflicts and to resolve the existing controversies is that all the institutions function within their constitutional ambit. Not doing so during the last 10 months has created further economic and social complications for the multitudes of people.
\nWithout a doubt, the neglect of the constitutional requirement and demand of main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to hold general elections within its mandatory time period after the dissolution of an election is increasing the problems of the country and has negative effects on the country\u2019s economic health.
\nFresh mandate of the people can emerge through elections. Newly elected leadership can improve relationships with institutions. Fiscal and development policies can improve. It is in everyone\u2019s interest to think beyond personal objections. The state institutions should play their responsible role to steer the country out of the quagmire. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A controversy surrounding a purely constitutional matter is searing by the hour following an exchange of letters between the President\u2019s office and the Election Commission of Pakistan over the holding of general elections to the provincial assemblies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. A letter by President Dr Arif Alvi, who is the head of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[12236],"class_list":{"0":"post-314769","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorial","7":"tag-beyond-letter-exchanges"},"yoast_head":"\n