ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced by-elections on three provincial assemblies' seats on February 16 and on four seats; two seats each of National Assembly and provincial assemblies, on February 19 next year, to complete electoral college for Senate elections the date for which, the Commission said would be announced at an 'appropriate time.'
The development comes as a clear indication that Senate elections are not likely before February 19, next year.
In total, by-polls have been announced on all the eight legislative seats. These seats comprise three seats of Sindh Assembly; PS-43 Sanghar-III, PS-88 Malir-II and PS-52 Umerkot-II, two seats of National Assembly; NA-45 Kurram-I and NA-75 Sialkot-IV, and one seat each of Punjab Assembly; PP-51 Gujranwala-I, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly; PK-63 Nowshera-III and Balochistan Assembly; PB-20 Pishin-III.
On Monday, ECP announced polling date of February 16 for by-elections on PS-43 Sanghar-III, PS-88 Malir-II and PB-20 Pishin-III while it announced polling date of February 19 for by-polls on remaining four seats NA-45 Kurram-I, NA-75 Sialkot-IV, PP-51 Gujranwala-I and PK-63 Nowshera-III.
Last Friday, the ECP announced by-election schedule for PS-52 Umerkot-I where by-poll would be held on January 18 next year.
On December 17, ECP's announcement to hold by-polls-to complete electoral college for Senate elections- came just over two weeks after postponing these polls till January 31 next year on the recommendation of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in the backdrop of rapid spread of COVID-19 across the country that has claimed thousands of precious lives. Moreover, the electoral body announced by-polls on the demand of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its Sindh government without consulting the federal government, all the other three provinces and any other political party except PPP.
The decision was taken in a meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja attended by senior ECP officials as well as PPP leader Taj Haider, Chief Minister Sindh's Law Advisor Murtaza Wahab and other senior Sindh government officials on Thursday.
No representative from the federal government and other three provincial governments attended the meeting, ECP admitted in a press release issued after the meeting.
Meanwhile, the ECP on Monday finally broke silence on controversy surrounding Senate polls. In a statement, the ECP cited Article 224 (3) of the Constitution of Pakistan, to say that Senate polls are constitutionally not possible before February 10 next year and they can take place anytime between February 10 and March 11 next year keeping in view the term of 52 or half of the senators expires on March 11, 2021.
Article 224(3) reads, "An election to fill the seats in the Senate which are to become vacant on the expiration of the term of the members of the Senate shall be held not earlier than thirty days immediately preceding the day on which the vacancies are due to occur."
The ECP statement said, "Last four or five Senate elections were held in the first week of March. The ECP would announce at an appropriate time the date for Senate elections in the form of elections' schedule, as per law and Constitution."
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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