ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan has sought respective inputs from the secretaries of the Senate, national and all the four provincial assemblies regarding arrangements for the upcoming presidential election.
In a letter sent to the assemblies and senate secretaries, the Election Commission of Pakistan has asked them to have the inputs of the respective speakers communicated to the Election Commission of Pakistan ahead of the preparation of presidential election schedule by the commission.
The speakers will now have to inform the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the timeframe for summoning the sessions of the Senate and the five assemblies for electing new President of Pakistan by the lawmakers. Following this, the ECP would issue the schedule for the election of new president as President Asif Ali Zardari's constitutional term expires on the coming September 9.
Some media reports said that the ECP had sent letters to the secretaries of NA, Senate and provincial assemblies in order to receive the lists carrying lawmakers' names in 'alphabetical' order in connection with the presidential election arrangements. However, the ECP has strongly denied such kind of news items terming them 'absurd' and 'funny.' "ECP is the constitutional body that compiles all the details of lawmakers. It's absurd and funny to even think that ECP will have to rely on the Parliament to get lawmakers' names alphabetically. Such stories are filed by those media sections that probably fall short of stories in Ramzan and dig fictitious accounts," an ECP representative said.
According to Article 41 (4) of the Constitution of Pakistan, election to the office of President shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of the President in office.