US backs ‘fair and timely’ elections in Pakistan

Following the measures of President Arif Alvi letter After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suggested that elections should be held no later than November 6, the US State Department urged Pakistan to hold free, fair and timely elections in accordance with the law.

During a Press conference On Wednesday, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller was asked to comment on Alvi’s letter to the ECP.

“As we do with countries around the world, we urge Pakistan to hold free, fair and timely elections, and to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,” Miller said.

The US official also urged Pakistani authorities to “move forward with the electoral process in a manner consistent with the laws of Pakistan.”

Alvi’s letter was the fourth letter written by the president to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, in connection with the elections in the country. In earlier letters, the president had suggested dates for elections to the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On February 20, the president had unilaterally announced April 9 as the date for the elections of the two provincial assemblies. Subsequently, he asked the ECP to hold elections in the two provinces on any date between April 30 and May 7. Punjab and KP assemblies They dissolved on January 14 and 19, respectively.

Political experts described the president’s latest move as “unnecessary” as they were of the opinion that writing to the CEC had created an ambiguity as the president had not given a “clear date for the elections and had only asked the ECP to hold them.” “Elections should not go beyond November 6.”

The President cited Article 48(5) of the Constitution which, according to him, empowered and mandated him to set a date no later than 90 days after the date of dissolution for the holding of general elections to the Assembly.

Therefore, “in terms of Article 48 (5), the general elections to the National Assembly must be held before the 89th day of the date of dissolution of the National Assembly, that is, Monday, November 6, 2023,” it is stated. read in the new letter. .

The president recalled that in an effort to comply with constitutional obligations, he had guest the CEC for a meeting. The CEC did not meet with the president and took a contrary opinion that under Article 51(5) of the Constitution and the framework of electoral laws, it was the responsibility of the ECP to decide the date of the elections. The Ministry of Justice had also expressed the same opinion In this regard and in response to the President’s question, he reiterated that the four provincial governments were of the opinion that the announcement of the election date was the mandate of the ECP.

The president said: “Furthermore, there is consensus that in order to strengthen the federation and promote unity and harmony among the provinces and avoid incurring unnecessary expenses, the general elections to the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies should be held on the same day.”

Recognizing that it was the responsibility of the ECP to comply with all constitutional and legal steps stipulated in Articles 51, 218, 219, 220 and the Electoral Act, 2017 to organize and conduct free and fair elections, the President informed that the ECP, in “consults with the provincial governments and political parties in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and in view of the fact that some of these issues are already sub judice, may seek guidance from the higher judiciary to announce a single date for the general elections at national and provincial assemblies.

Ties between Pakistan and the United States

He was also asked about the Torkham border issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which began last week after a shooting broke out between the two border forces.

“Obviously, we would encourage those two governments to work together to solve that problem,” Miller said.