ECP excuses itself from holding next general polls in 90 days

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday excused itself from holding the next general elections within 90 days.

In a letter to President Arif Alvi, the ECP maintained that it requires at least four months to conduct delimitation, census to ensure free and fair polls for the next general elections. Moreover, it also stated that the body will be in position to conduct polls at least by October 2022.

The ECP has requested a meeting with the president on this matter.

President Arif Alvi, earlier, in his letter instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to finalise a date for new national polls. Meanwhile, The Supreme Court resumed the hearing into the suo motu case about dismissal of no-confidence motion in the national assembly (NA) today. In his remark, the chief justice called deputy speaker’s ruling ‘erroneous’.

The Supreme Court had taken notice of the political turmoil after Prime Minister Imran Khan dissolved the NA on Sunday. A five member larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial is hearing the case.

During the hearing, CJP Bandial said it is evident that NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s move to dismiss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan through a controversial ruling is a violation of Article 95.

“Now we have to see what happens next,” he said.

Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) said he was not defending speaker’s ruling and his concern was the new elections.

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