President summons National Assembly to meet on Thursday, 29th February, also highlights his reservations

Islamabad, : Subject to some reservations, President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned to convene the National Assembly on 29th February in exercise of the powers conferred by the Article 54(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The President accorded his approval while keeping in view the mandate and implications of the timeline given in Article 91 (2) and subject to some reservations and expecting the resolution of the issue of the reserved seats before the 21st day.

While responding to the Summary sent by the caretaker Prime Minister, the President said that the tone and tenor of the Honorable Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan was unfortunate. He stated that the President, who was Head of the State and represented the unity of the Republic as per Article 41 of the Constitution, took exception to the contents of the Summary.

The President wrote that “Summaries are not usually addressed in this way. It is sad that Chief Executive of the country addresses the Head of the State in the first form and resorts to unacceptable language and allegations without any substance”. He highlighted that he believed and always maintained the principle of objectivity and neutrality in accordance with his oath and responsibilities under the Constitution of Pakistan.

The President said that he could not be oblivious of some incongruities in the electoral process and the process of formation of the Government. He added that he had to keep national interest in his view, for cohesiveness and betterment of the nation. Return of the summary was very much in accordance with the provisions of Article 48(1), he maintained. “It is not understood on what grounds it has been taken as a partisan act, though it was also aimed at the completion of the National Assembly in accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution, so that people of Pakistan are not deprived of taking part in the executive decisions of the country through their representatives as enshrined in the Objectives Resolution”, he stated.

The President said that he did not want to indulge and engage himself or to dwell into such baseless accusations of constitutional violation attributed in the Summary. He further remarked that it was needless to remind that a Caretaker Prime Minister/set up was merely responsible to ensure conducive conditions for the peaceful, fair and transparent holding of the General elections, within the framework of the Constitution and the timeline on which many quarters had expressed reservations. “There are many cases being challenged and it is the responsibility of the State that the will and mandate of the people is respected by all”, he added.

The President underlined that proposal in Para 14 of the Summary was anachronistic because it was received in the night of 26th February, 2024. He said that the Prime Minister had not returned the summary strictly in accordance with the Provisions of Article 48 (1) of the Constitution for reconsideration.

The President stated that he fully realized that the Constitution of Pakistan must be implemented in letter and spirit, though it was not being done so in case of the existing electoral process.

The President reiterated his stance about the provisions of the Constitution such as Article 51 and clause 2 of Article 91 to be followed by all and given effect in letter and spirit. “Of late the Election Commission of Pakistan is seized of the exercise contemplated by the Article 51 of the Constitution, the outcome of which was awaited and expected by the 21st day as envisaged in Article 91(2). However, till this time no decision has been made by the Commission”, he wrote.

The President concluded that keeping in view the mandate and implications of the timeline given in Article 91(2) and subject to his reservations and expecting the resolution of the issue of reserved seats before the 21st day, the National Assembly meeting was summoned to convene on 29th February 2024.