ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that because of other commitments it cannot make arrangements for holding the PCB election.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on October 21 had directed the commission to make arrangements for electing the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by November 2.

In its review petition, which was accepted for hearing on Monday, the ECP maintained that holding election for the PCB was not its constitutional mandate.

The commission is only bound to hold elections for the national and provincial assemblies, said Mohammad Munir Paracha, the counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan.

In case the Election Commission of Pakistan is directed by the court to hold the election, it would need more time as the institution was busy in organising local government, cantonment board and by-elections in the four provinces, he added.

The counsel suggested that a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court may be appointed as the chief election commissioner for the PCB election.

He, however, said the ECP can provide technical assistance for the cricket board election.

Regarding a reference to the ECP holding the election of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the counsel said the commission had just provided technical support to the PEC and did not hold the polls.

He argued that in the writ petitions for holding the PCB election and later in the contempt plea filed against the PCB caretaker Najam Sethi for not holding the election within 90 days, the ECP was neither a party nor provided a chance to present its points of view by the court.

Justice Siddiqui will take up the matter on Tuesday (today) to pass a judgment on the ECP review application.