ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to unveil the polling schedule for the presidential election on March 1.
According to an ECP spokesperson, the formation of all assemblies will be completed by February 29, thus finalizing the electoral college necessary for the presidential election.
“The schedule and official notice for the presidential election will be issued on March 1,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Nomination Papers: Starting (Tuesday/Feb 27), presidential candidates can obtain nomination papers.
“Papers can be acquired from the Election Commission or the four Provincial Election Commissioners,” the ECP spokesperson stated.
“A public announcement regarding the polling day will be made on March 1. Candidates will have until 12:00 on March 2 to submit their nomination papers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Gohar Khan asserted that no other party has the right to the reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
“Several decisions by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have not safeguarded our constitutional rights. No session can be conducted until a decision is made on the reserved seats,” Khan insisted.
He claimed that the recent session of the Punjab Assembly was conducted “illegally,” and he anticipates a similar illegality with the upcoming session of the National Assembly scheduled for February 29.
“The session should be convened only after the notification of all members, as the SIC has submitted four applications to the ECP,” Khan emphasized.
Regarding reserved seats in the National Assembly: Khan highlighted that there are 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for minorities.
He also alleged that PTI was targeted through conspiratorial means, with its candidates contesting elections on independent symbols. “86 of our MNAs joined the Sunni Ittehad Council. In Punjab, 107 MPs joined SIC.
In KP, 9 MPs joined SIC, and in Sindh Assembly, nine MPs joined the SIC,” Khan stated.
