In the lead-up to the conclusion of President Dr. Arif Alvi’s five-year constitutional term, the core committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called upon him to swiftly exercise his powers and announce the date for the upcoming general election. This move aims to address the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the election’s conduct.
President Alvi, who secured his position as Pakistan’s head of state with majority support from PTI in 2018, reached the end of his five-year term on September 8.
The PTI’s core committee stressed that any further delay in this matter could potentially result in a breach of the Constitution and undermine the fundamental democratic rights of the citizens.
Through a unanimous resolution, the committee underlined that the Constitution empowers the president to designate the date for general elections within 90 days in case of the premature dissolution of the National Assembly.
They emphasized the crucial role of the president in promptly fulfilling this constitutional obligation to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and facilitate a smooth transition of power.
The PTI, represented by members of its core committee, asserted that the current widespread chaos and turmoil in the state structure and governance were the result of an “undemocratic and unconstitutional regime change conspiracy” in April 2022. They reiterated that establishing a democratic government was not only a constitutional requirement but also the need of the hour to address Pakistan’s multifaceted crises.
It’s worth noting that the National Assembly was dissolved in August after completing its term, and according to the Constitution, elections were originally scheduled for November. However, the previous government approved the 2023 census results, necessitating a fresh delimitation process by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Subsequently, the ECP announced a schedule to complete this task by November 30, after which the electoral process would commence. On the other hand, some political parties, including PTI and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party, argue that elections should be held within the Constitution’s 90-day deadline. Several petitions have also been filed in the Supreme Court, urging its intervention in this matter.