President Alvi Pens Second Letter to Election Commission

Islamabad (Amir Ilyas Rana, Khalid Mahmood) President Arif Alvi has written a second letter to the Election Commission in which it has been suggested that according to the constitution, general elections should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly by November 6. The Commission should approach the Supreme Court for final guidance. According to the President’s House, it was written in the letter that the President dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of the Prime Minister on August 9, so under Article 48(5) of the Constitution, the President has the power to hold general elections from the date of dissolution of the Assembly. The date should be fixed within 90 days. According to Article 48(5), the general election for the National Assembly should be held by the 89th day of the date of dissolution of the National Assembly i.e. Monday, November 6. To fulfill the constitutional responsibility, the Chief Election Commissioner was invited for a meeting to formulate the method of implementation of the Constitution and its orders, but the Chief Election Commissioner in response took a contrary position that the scheme and framework of the Constitution. Accordingly, this is the authority of the Election Commission. The President said that after the publication of the census in August, constituencies are also being demarcated, which is a mandatory requirement under Article 51(5) of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Election Act. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to follow the constitutional and legal measures under Article 51-218-219-220 and the Elections Act 2017 for free and fair elections. He should consult with the provincial governments and political parties and seek guidance from the Supreme Judiciary to hold the national and provincial elections on the same day given the many cases already pending. It should be noted that the President had previously written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on August 23 and invited him for consultation to determine the date of the elections. He had also written a letter to the Federal Ministry of Law, but the reply from both sides was that according to the new legislation. The Election Commission will respond to the President’s letter within 24 hours and clarify its legal position again. He has already completed consultation with 20 political parties including Tehreek-e-Insaaf. According to APP, President Alvi emphasized the implementation of a job quota for special people in a meeting and said that 10 to 12 percent of the population is facing disabilities.

Demand for agreement based on 5 conditions, increase in gas rates for industries from July, fixed power sector system, IMF

ISLAMABAD (From Arshad Ansari) There has been no progress in the matter of relief on electricity bills between the IMF the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy. has demanded. According to sources in the Ministry of Finance, the IMF has demanded an immediate increase in gas rates for power-generating industries and this increase should be implemented from July 2023. According to sources, the IMF has demanded an agreement based on five conditions from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy and has asked that incentives given to captive power producers be withdrawn. Like other consumers, the gas rates for captive power producers should be increased from July, the discount for captive power producers should be removed and a plan to increase the rates should be provided. Sources say that the finance ministry has sought time to announce the relief and implement the IMF conditions. IMF has instructed the Ministry of Finance to correct the power sector system to give relief to the consumers.