In an apparent move to build pressure on the already alienated Presidency, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government on Friday leaked information to media, suggesting that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had been asked to release the schedule for the presidential election months ahead of its timeframe to facilitate the government’s preparations.
The term of President Asif Ali Zardari is expiring on September 9. A source in the government said an official letter was sent by Parliament Secretariat to the ECP to release the schedule for the presidential election.
“The ECP has also been asked to hold by-polls on national and provincial assemblies so as the electoral college for the presidential election could be completed,” the source said.
However, the ECP official said no such letter had been received. The spokesman for the National Assembly Secretariat also denied that any letter had been sent to the ECP.
Under the law, the members of Senate, National and provincial assemblies vote to elect the president.
Moreover, the source added that the government wanted release of schedule so as the members of both Houses of parliament and provincial assemblies could be directed to remain in Pakistan to take part in presidential poll.
The source said the ECP had been involved in the preparations for the presidential polls which could be held in the first week of September this year.
Under Article 41, it is mandatory for the ECP to release the schedule for presidential election 30 days ahead of the termination of the tenure of the president.
However, the ECP officials said they had not received any such request. However, the schedule could be released within 60 days of the presidential polls.
The source said that under the constitution, the presidential election could even be held a month ahead of its schedule.
“Since Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim is abroad these days, no decision has yet been made,” the ECP spokesman said.
A source in the PML-N said the government wanted to put further pressure on the presidency so as ground could be prepared for a clear win for the PML-N candidate for presidential slot and the isolated president could not field his candidate properly.
Meanwhile, the ECP said the chief election commissioner would be the returning officer for the presidential election.
Article 41 of the constitution provides that the president shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of the Second Schedule by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of parliament, and the members of the provincial assemblies.
“Election to the office of President shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of the President in office,” says the constitution.
“The validity of the election of the President shall not be called in question by or before any court or other authority,” another sub-clause says.
Meanwhile, the PPP parliamentary party spokesperson Shazia Marri said her party would welcome if the government kept itself within the constitutional ambits.
However, she hastened to add that the PML-N leaders may opt for “wishful thinking”, stating that Nawaz League had many wishes against the PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari and terminating President Asif Zardari’s constitutional tenure was one of those wishes.
“But it is yet to be determined up to what extent they may go to fulfil their desire. We will be closely watching whether they remain within the constitutional limits and we will strategise per their actions and not words. If they breached the constitution, we will take action,” she added.
She said the PML-N had called for imposition of emergency during the PPP’s previous tenure. However, she added, the PML-N kept them limited to verbal onslaughts and no practical move was made. “We will see what they are up to this time around,” she added.
