ISLAMABAD: The much-awaited general elections will be held on May 11, 2013, Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Wednesday.
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed a summary in this regard, Babar said, adding that he summary was sent by the Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The spokesman said the Prime Minister had advised the President to announce a suitable date for holding general elections to the National Assembly in terms of Article 48 (1) of the Constitution read with the relevant statutory provisions.
The National Assembly stood dissolved on completion of its constitutional term of five years on 16th of this month.
Babar said that section 11 (1) of the Representation of the People Act 1976 says “As soon as may be necessary and practicable‚ the President makes an announcement of the date or dates on which the polls shall be taken‚ the Election Commission‚ not later than thirty days of such announcement shall‚ by notification in the official gazette‚ call upon a constituency to elect a representative or representatives”.
In view of this legal provision the Prime Minister on Wednesday advised the President to announce a suitable date for holding general elections to the National Assembly which the President did by announcing 11th of May as the date for elections.
It, however, is not yet clear whether elections for four provincial assemblies would be held on the same date or not.
DND
