Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and President Arif Alvi have unanimously agreed to hold general elections in the country on February 8, 2024.
The President’s House announced the development in a statement. Alvi heard the progress made by the country’s top electoral authority regarding constituencies and elections.
Earlier in the day, CEC Raja had recommended February 11 as the election date to President Arif Alvi in a meeting on Thursday, following the Supreme Court’s order to confer with the latter for the poll date. But sources told Aaj News that no consensus could be reached between the two.
“In order to comply with the directions contained in the subject order of the apex court, the commission, after due deliberation, hereby proposes for appointment of poll date February 11, 2024, for general elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies,” said the letter written by the CEC to the president.
The letter was written after a meeting concluded between the two. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman was also in attendance. According to sources, the meeting lasted more than an hour and the CEC suggested three dates for elections: January 28, February 4, and February 28.
CEC Raja came into action right after the Supreme Court issued orders for the election date to be fixed.
Moreover, Raja had also presided over a meeting in Islamabad with the secretary and members of the commission in attendance.
Earlier while leaving after a hearing in the Supreme Court, ECP Secretary Umar Hameed said that he has decided to consult with the president regarding the general elections on February 11.
Officials of the polls overseer said that the meeting of the commission was “necessary” before consulting the president.
The secretary, during the hearing, briefed the meeting on what happened during the court proceedings. The reports also added that the attorney general would fix an appointment with President Alvi and then let the ECP know.
Sources said that the meeting between the ECP and the president could happen as soon as today.