President Arif Alvi has asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to provide assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan so that polls in KP and Punjab may be organised on time.

In a letter written to Shehbaz on Friday, President Alvi said that the PM is responsible for safeguarding human rights as well as fundamental rights.

“All concerned executive authorities of Federal and Provincial governments should be directed to refrain from abuse of human rights and also to assist the ECP to hold general elections in provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the timeframe in compliance of Supreme Court’s orders,” President Alvi wrote.

President Alvi has also mentioned that houses of political workers are being raided and law enforcement agencies have used ‘grossly disproportionate’ use of force against protestors.

He also added that Pakistan’s media, already faced with abysmal freedom rankings, has been further suppressed and journalists have even been subjected to charges of terrorism and sedition. He referred to the media suppression as a ‘reign of terror’, the same phrase used by Imran Khan when the ECP announced the delay in elections.

Mentioning the delay in the Paunjab elections on the basis of terrorism and a lack of funds, President Alvi said that provincial authorities and govt authorities have committed ‘flagrant’ violations of the constitution.

He also expressed his wonder about why the PM had never consulted him on a matter as important as the elections.

“It is a matter of concern that no meaningful consultation with the President on policy issues has been undertaken by the Prime Minister.”