ECP pens letter to President over postponed Punjab elections

Following the suspension of the Punjab elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent a letter to President Arif Alvi on Friday to express its trust in his judgment.

The ECP wrote a letter to President Arif Alvi outlining the grounds for postponing the elections in Punjab.

According to the ECP letter, Punjab polls were scheduled in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling since it was the electoral body’s duty to conduct free and transparent elections.

The letter continued by stating that discussions with the governor of Punjab, the caretaker administration, security agencies, chief secretary, and others were conducted to discuss transparent and fair elections; however, none of the parties involved were prepared for rapid polls, and security was also refused.

The letter also made reference to Sections 58 and 8C of the Election Act 2017 and Article 218 (3) of the Constitution, all of which provided for the cancellation of elections.

Elections are scheduled for October 8, with the timing for those elections to be determined later and that polls on April 30 were not feasible, the Election Commission of Pakistan stated.