ECP writes letter to get power to extend election date, change schedule

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Chief Election Commissioner Raja Sikandar Sultan, in a letter to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, sought the power to extend the election date.

The letter stated that the court's judgments of March 1 and April 4 led to controversy and challenged the Election Commission's writ on several occasions.

It demanded that amendments be proposed in the Election Act 2017 to get full power to announce date, schedule and change the schedule of elections.

The ECP has recommended amendments to Sections 57(1) and 58 of the Election Act 2017 and a draft in this regard has also been prepared.

After the amendment in Section 57(1), the Election Commission of Pakistan will have the authority to propose the polling day for the elections, while under Section 57, only the Election Commission will have the authority to issue the election schedule.