Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has decided not to meet President Dr Arif Alvi for consultation on a date for elections, citing the reason that it is prerogative of the commission to announce election date as per law. 

This came at a meeting of Election Commission of Pakistan held in Islamabad on Thursday to deliberate on President's letter written to the chief election commissioner inviting him for consultations.                        

The ECP in its rejoinder to President's letter stated if the Assembly is dissolved on the advice of Prime Minister or by afflux of time as provided in Article 59 (1) of the Constitution then the power to fix a date or dates for elections rests exclusively with the commission.

The commission pointed out that Section 57 of the Election Act 2017 has been amended vide amendment Act 2023 on 26 June this year.

The Commission said it is undertaking responsibility of holding the general election very seriously and has also initiated the process of inviting the major political parties for their views on the electoral roadmap.

The commission clarified that it holds the office of the President in high esteem and it has always been an honor to meet and seek his guidance on national issues at an appropriate time.