ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to conduct its upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024, as declared jointly by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Presidency.
This announcement came after a consultative meeting between the president and ECP officials in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives.
The ECP released a press statement confirming that the general elections are scheduled for February 8 next year.
The ECP also disseminated this information via the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
"Today, the honorable members of the Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, met with the President of Pakistan at the Presidency to deliberate on the election date. It was unanimously agreed that the elections will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024," the ECP stated in its post.
.
According to the Presidential statement, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, in compliance with the Supreme Court's directive, convened at Aiwan-e-Sadr to deliberate on the date for the forthcoming General Elections in the nation. Following a comprehensive discussion, a unanimous decision was reached to conduct the General Elections on February 8, 2024.
Insiders familiar with the consultative session between ECP authorities and President Dr. Arif Alvi have revealed that initially, President Alvi advocated for scheduling the general elections during the final week of January in the following year.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed the ECP to collaborate with President Arif Alvi to establish the definitive date for the upcoming elections. In compliance with the Supreme Court's instructions, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan attended the meeting.
After the consultative meeting, ECP officials departed from the Presidency and convened an internal session chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja. During this session, the outcomes of their discussion with President Alvi were deliberated upon. The ECP's secretary and legal team were also present, and a report for the Supreme Court was compiled during that time.
In the course of today's proceedings, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa directed the ECP to collaborate with the president and swiftly announce the election date without any delays. He emphasized that the specified date would be binding on all stakeholders and adjourned the hearing until Friday.
Subsequently, during the hearing of a case demanding general elections within 90 days, a counsel representing the ECP assured the court that the general elections in the country would be held on February 11 next year. This assertion was made before a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Isa and including Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah.
Numerous parties, such as the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and others, had submitted petitions against the Council of Common Interests' (CCI) decision and the postponement of general elections beyond the 90-day timeframe. In the courtroom, ECP officials, the Attorney General for Pakistan, PTI counsel Ali Zafar, and PPP's Farooq H. Naek presented their arguments.
