ECP schedules polls for Punjab PA and 6 NA seats
On Wednesday, the ECP declared that the general elections for Punjab Assembly, along with the by-polls on six National Assembly seats, will take place on April 30. These seats were vacated by Imran Khan, the Chairman of PTI.
ECP Announce:
By issuing the election schedule, the ECP announced that the nomination papers for the election will be invited through a public notice on March 11. This will initiate the election process which will span over seven weeks.
The schedule states that the nomination papers can be submitted starting from March 12 until March 14. After the completion of this process, the names of the candidates will be published on March 15.
The returning officer will conduct scrutiny of nomination papers on March 22. Appeals against returning officer’s decisions on nomination papers must be filed by March 27.
The appellate tribunal will make decisions on the appeals by April 3.
As per the schedule issued by the Election Commision Pakistan, the ECP will publish the revised list of candidates on April 4, and candidates will have the choice to withdraw their nomination papers until April 5.
Candidate Finalise:
The Election Commission will release the final list of candidates with allotted symbols on April 6, and voters will cast their ballots on April 30. The ECP has instructed parties to submit priority lists for reserved seats, including seats for women and non-Muslims, by March 14.
ECP releases schedule for by-elections in six NA seats: Mardan-III, Charsadda-II, Peshawar-V, Faisalabad-VIII, Nankana Sahib-II, and Korangi Karachi-I.
These seats were won by PTI Chairman in by-polls last year. Imran khan had won a total of seven seats in the by-polls. However, the ECP de-notified the former PM from six of them on February 24.
Election Announce:
After consulting with the ECP on the orders of the Supreme Court, President Dr. Arif Alvi announced the election date of April 30 for Punjab. The ECP had suggested the election between April 30 and May 7.
Then CM Chaudhry Parvez Elahi dissolved the PA in January on the instructions of PTI chairman. Imran Khan ordered and carried out the dissolution of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly in the same month.
The Supreme Court had requested the K-P governor to set a voting date in coordination with the ECP for the general election, but no date has been announced yet.
Election Date:
On Wednesday, a three-member ECP, including Secretary Omar Hameed Khan, Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain and Director General Law Arshad Khan held consultations with the governor regarding the election date.
During a two-hour consultative session, the K-P governor briefed the ECP team on the provincial situation, including law and order. The process of determining the date for the general elections in the province has now entered the final phase.
ECP Meeting:
Meanwhile, the ECP has planned several meetings this week to prepare for the upcoming elections in both provinces. As per the ECP spokesperson, a meeting will be held with the interior and finance secretaries on Thursday.
The Election Commision Pakistan plans to request the Finance Ministry to arrange for funds to conduct the elections, and the interior secretary to provide sufficient security personnel for election duty.
The ECP has summoned officials from the defence ministry and the Directorate of Military Operations to provide a security briefing on Friday.
ECP has requested the caretaker Punjab CM, the provincial chief secretary, and the inspector general of police to appear at the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad on March 13.
This news Published on Logical Baat, March 9,2023.
