A security guard standing outside the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad on September 21, 2023. Photo: AFP
PESHAWAR:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally notified the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly of arrangements for the Senate by-elections scheduled for April 23 and has asked all members to carry their original CNIC and Assembly membership cards while casting their votes.
In an official letter sent to the assembly secretariat, the ECP stated that the by-election for the vacant senate seat will be held on April 23. The Commission has directed the Secretariat to inform all MPAs that it is mandatory to produce both their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and Assembly Membership Card at the time of voting. MPAs have been advised to ensure that they carry both documents.
Meanwhile, disagreements have arisen within the opposition parties about fielding a common candidate for the Senate by-election. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have failed to reach an agreement, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has withdrawn from the contest.
The opposition parties had initially decided to nominate a consensus candidate for the vacant senate seat. Nomination papers were submitted by JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Haseeb, PPP’s Raheela Bibi and PML-N’s Asghar. A parliamentary committee recently interviewed the candidates and directed the PPP candidate to withdraw her papers. However, both JUI-F and PML-N stood firm on their respective candidates and no agreement could be reached between the two parties.
