President, ECP agree on holding elections on February 8, 2024

President Arif Alvi and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reached an agreement on holding general elections on February 8.

The agreement was reached after a meeting was held on the directives of the Supreme Court (SC), which had directed the electoral watchdog to confer with the president on the poll date.

Subsequently, the ECP had sprung into action and a delegation headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja met with the president at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad.

After the meeting wrapped up, it emerged that CEC Raja had written a letter to the president, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, proposing February 11 as the date for general elections.

“In the meeting, the date for holding the next general elections was discussed,” the statement said, adding that the president also listened to the progress made by the ECP regarding delimitation of constituencies.

“After a detailed discussion, the meeting unanimously agreed to hold general elections in the country on February 8, 2024,” the statement said.

Minutes later the ECP also released a statement reiterating that the meeting had unanimously decided on holding general elections on February 8.

SC directs ECP to consult with president

Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had directed the ECP to confer with Alvi on the poll date after the electoral body said that elections would be held on February 11.

“Let the ECP meet with the president of Pakistan today and the date for holding general elections in Pakistan be appointed,” the top judge said in a written order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.

He directed AGP Awan to arrange the meeting, provide Alvi with the court order and be available to render assistance. “We expect that the matter of appointing a date for holding general elections shall be settled, and this court will be informed tomorrow (Nov 3),” Justice Isa added.

The order was issued after a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard a set of petitions calling for holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures.

At the previous hearing, the court had issued notices to the election commission and the federal government for their input on polls within 90 days.

During today’s hearing, Justice Isa sought a clear stance from the electoral body on polls to which the ECP lawyer said there was a 54-day schedule after the delimitation process — to be completed by Nov 30.

“All arrangements including the drawing of constituencies will be completed by Jan 29,” Sajeel Swati said, adding that the final list of constituencies will be published on Dec 5.

He told the court that the electoral body had been looking to hold polls on a Sunday for the ease of the public. “We have decided that elections will be held on Feb 11, which is the second Sunday,” the lawyer added.

CJP Isa asked the ECP if President Arif Alvi was taken on board in the matter to which Swati said “we are not bound to take the president on board”.

This drew the chief justice’s ire. “Both the president and ECP are Pakistanis. Why is the ECP hesitant to consult with the president?” he asked and then directed the electoral body to discuss the matter with Alvi.

After a half-hour recess in the hearing, Swati told the SC that the ECP would be consulting with the president today. “Knock his door even if he doesn’t call you,” Justice Isa said and then instructed AGP Awan to stay on board during the consultation.

Subsequently, the CJP, while dictating the order of the proceedings in the case, said that the election date given would have to be implemented. “SC wants polls to be held without any arguments,” the top judge said, adding that the court only wanted a solution to the issue and didn’t want to get stuck in any technicalities.

“The final date for polls will be announced from the Supreme Court,” Justice Isa announced, adding that after this petitions regarding any delays won’t be entertained.

Later, Secretary Omar Hamid Khan confirmed to Geo News that the consultation with the president will be taking place “shortly”.