PTI’s Perspective
The drafting of President Alvi’s letter to the Chief Election Commissioner is seen as a significant but somewhat disappointing act. According to critics, he was expected to issue a gazette notification, exercising his powers under Article 48(5) of the constitution, and directing the fixation of the election date. The letter, however, does not hold the weight of a formal notification and does not establish legal or constitutional obligations. This move is perceived as an implicit surrender of authority, potentially weakening PTI’s position before the Supreme Court.
While President Alvi’s letter may have caused confusion and concern among various segments of society, it’s essential to consider the possible motives behind this move. Some argue that the PTI government may still hold hopes of navigating the electoral process to its advantage. By introducing a tentative date, President Alvi may be attempting to create an environment conducive to PTI’s electoral prospects.
This is how President Alvi merely points out the latest possible date for elections to the NA (when he clearly has the constitutional obligation to appoint a date for elections within 90 days of dissolution).
In the cases of KPK and Punjab, the CECP’s response to the president’s inquiry about the election date served as a clear dismissal. This prompts the question of why President Alvi would traverse the same path again. This letter essentially outlines how President Alvi “announced” the election date for the Punjab and KP assemblies, despite lacking the constitutional authority to do so.
