ISLAMABAD: Oct 26: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday refuted President Dr Arif Alvi’s assertions and noted that the date for the upcoming general elections will be announced once the process of new constituencies completes. ECP clarified its position noting that the impression extracted from president Arif Alvi’s assertions made in a television interview the other day. President Arif Alvi had claimed in his television interview aired by a private channel a couple of days that there seems no possibility of holding general elections in the country in January 2024.
A couple of months ago, ECP had announced that the general elections will be held in the country in January next year. Despite a clear announcement the political parties are in doubt on issuance of final schedule for the next general elections. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People Party (PPP) and other political parties are insisting on early announcement of schedule of the forthcoming general elections.
The general elections were due in October this year, but some technical hitches like completion of new constituencies forced ECP to hold schedule for some time. This devoid from the constitutional obligation has invited unending criticism from many major political parties like PTI and PPP. PTI and other political parties have been accusing ECP of delaying schedule for the next general elections to favour some political parties. They argue that ECP is tilting towards Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) to give it a favour in the next general elections.
ECP in its reaction to Dr Arif Alvi’s claims made by him in the interview strongly refutes any zigzag in fixing dates for next general elections. ECP spokesperson said in an official handout issued here on Thursday that impression given by president Dr Arif Alvi in his latest interview has nothing to do with the facts. He added that ECP will announce final date for holding general elections in the country once the process of the new delimitations
