The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declined to attend the meeting at President’s House to discuss election issues of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the advice of the Law Wing and the Presidency will issue a statement in this regard, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Meanwhile, sources at the Presidency said orders have been issued for releasing a statement after the scheduled time for meeting with the ECP officials is over.

According to sources in ECP, cases relating to dates of elections for provincial assemblies are pending in courts and any decision regarding election dates will be made after the court decisions on these cases. 

The time for meeting at President was set from 11:00 am to 11:30 am, said sources at the President.

A statement will be issued after the President’s consultation on constitutional issues.

The ECP had already declined to hold talks with the president on the poll date issue.

In its reply to the second letter of President Arif Alvi on Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had refused to enter into the process of consultation with the office of the President regarding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

“Under Article 105 of the Constitution, the governor can give the date of elections for a dissolved assembly,” read the text of the ECP’s reply.

“The ECP wrote a letter to the governors of Punjab and KP in the light of the Constitution, and both of them have not yet given the date for elections,” it added.

“The matter related to the general elections in both the provinces is under hearing in different courts. The Lahore High Court (LHC) in its order had directed to consult with the Governor of Punjab,” it stated.

“The ECP officials had consulted with the Governor of Punjab, but he did not give the date for elections,” it maintained.

“The ECP also filed an intra-appeal in the LHC regarding the decision. The ECP has no constitutional or legal authority to fix the date for elections,” it stated.

Reporter Usman Khan and Awais Kiyani