ISLAMABAD: As the process of forming a government accelerates, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has written to the high courts, requesting that the chief justices be appointed as presiding officers for presidential elections to be held by March 9 before Ramadan, The News reported Monday.
On February 23, the electoral body sent a letter with the title “Election to the Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 2024”.
According to prior practice, ECP encouraged the chief justices of relevant high courts to serve as presiding officers for the purpose.
The ECP’s notification to all high courts stated: “May I draw your kind attention to Article 41 of the Constitution, which provides the term, qualification, and timelines for Election.”
“(4) Election to the office of President shall be held not sooner than sixty days nor later than thirty days before the expiration of the President’s term in office.
“Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved, it shall be held within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly.”
Furthermore, it stated: “In light of the aforesaid Article, the President’s election to office must be held before March 9, 2024. It is worth noting that the second schedule of the Constitution establishes a mechanism for carrying out presidential elections. According to paragraph 1 of the second schedule, Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the Returning Officer for the conduct of election.”
