ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a crucial record of the conversation between President Arif Alvi and ECP chief election commissioner Sultan Sikandar Raja to the Supreme Court. This development unfolded during a hearing related to the timing of the upcoming general elections, which has been adjourned for further deliberation.
At the onset of today’s proceedings, Attorney General Mansoor Awan assured the Supreme Court that the minutes of the meeting between the President and ECP would be promptly presented. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, in response, inquired about the time needed to produce the document, to which the Attorney General requested half an hour.
The Chief Justice remarked that the Supreme Court would resume the case after addressing the matters scheduled for the day. Following a brief intermission, Election Commission officials arrived at the Supreme Court with the meeting minutes, providing a detailed account of their communication with President Arif Alvi.
According to the submitted documents, the Election Commission proposed February 11 as the preferred date for the general elections during the meeting with President Alvi. Upon reviewing the records, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa sought confirmation of the President’s endorsement by questioning the presence of his signature on the document. The Attorney General clarified that the President had issued a separate consent letter.
Curiosity lingered in the courtroom as the Chief Justice inquired about the whereabouts of the consent letter. The Attorney General assured the court that the document would be promptly presented.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, emphasizing the importance of clarity in the case regarding the timeline for holding general elections within 90 days, questioned the proximity between the President’s House and the Supreme Court. He expressed the court’s commitment to leaving no room for ambiguity in this matter.
Throughout the hearing, key figures such as Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, PTI lawyer Ali Zafar, and PPP lawyer Farooq H. Naik appeared in the Supreme Court. Ali Zafar, representing PTI, focused his arguments on the constitutional imperative of holding elections on time.
Ali Zafar invoked constitutional articles 58 and 224, highlighting the significance of timely elections for the formation of a functioning parliament and the enactment of laws. However, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa pointed out that the plea for elections within 90 days had seemingly lost its efficacy during the proceedings.
The Pakistan People’s Party was also granted permission to intervene in the case during the hearing. Ali Zafar, in his argument, contended that if the President dissolves the assembly, he is obligated to announce the election date within 90 days. The Chief Justice queried whether consultation with the Prime Minister was necessary for the President to set a date, to which Ali Zafar asserted that it was not mandatory, as the President holds the constitutional authority to determine the election date.
Amidst the legal intricacies and constitutional interpretations, the courtroom drama unfolded, shaping the narrative of a nation awaiting the clarity and certainty that only a timely election can bring.
