The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan orders the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consult the president on the election date. SC resumed hearings on a group of petitions seeking elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies.

A three-judge bench included Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Aminuddin Khan, and Justice Athar Minallah. They heard the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and Ibadur Rehman Lodhi.

ECP gave the election date during a court hearing

ECP informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the country’s general elections will be held on February 11, 2024.

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ECP’s lawyer Sajeel Swati shared the date with the Supreme Court during the hearing of petitions calling for timely polls across the country.

Sajeel Swati told the three-member bench that elections will be held in the country [after] delimitation is completed on November 30.

ECP reached the President’s House following SC’s order

The ECP decided to contact President Dr. Arif Alvi after the SC ordered the election commission to engage with him over the election schedule. The court also stated that it hoped the two parties would reach an agreement on elections. The court advise it of the outcome tomorrow.

A delegation from ECP has arrived at the President’s House to discuss the final date for polls with President Dr Arif Alvi.

ECP officials, Pakistan’s Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and PTI lawyer Ali Zafar appeared in court. Likewise, Pakistan’s People Party (PPP) lawyer Farooq H.Naik also appeared in the Supreme Court during the hearing.

Justice Athar Minallah asked if the president has set a date for elections. According to Ali Zafar, the president has set the date. However, the EC of Pakistan stated that it is not the president’s authority.

Afterward, Justice Athar remarked that the President must order the date and the government must inform it. And CJP passed the remark that holding elections is a good thing, not a problem. He also inquired why the president was not called and asked for the election date.

In this regard, SC then adjourned the meeting till tomorrow asking ECP to consult the president on the election date. And inform the court about it on next day.