Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi cast doubt on scheduled timing of general elections, saying that he is not sure that polls will be held in January as suggested by Election Commission of Pakistan.

Dr Arif Alvi termed free, fair and credible elections, in which all political parties are given level-playing field, significant for bright future of country. He revealed that when he wrote letter to ECP and proposed to resolve issue amicably, they replied that “It is not necessary”.

ECP in September had announced that elections would be held in last week of January 2024 as delimitation process would be completed by November 30, followed by 54-day election programme period before general elections.

Apparently, eagerly awaited announcement cleared fog of political ambiguity and rekindled hopes for resurgence of political and economic stability but despite clearing air about polls’ timing, ECP did not announce exact elections date, leaving room for speculation.

In an interview given to private TV channel, Alvi reaffirmed his loyalty to his party chief saying that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan is still his leader, adding that if he was not in President’s House, he would have been in jail today.President Alvi said that if he had not gone on Hajj pilgrimage, he would not have signed amendment made in Election Act 2017 citing it against Constitution. He said Article 57/1 was amended in Act and that is why he did not sign it.

Alvi clarified that he did not send reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa but it came from Prime Minister’s House, adding that later Imran Khan also refused sending reference on his own.

In an apparent reference to former Army Chief General Bajwa, Khan had said in May that reference against Justice Isa during his tenure as premier was filed on orders of an “Authority” which was “Even superior” to then DG ISI Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 26 2023

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