ECP proposes polling dates for Punjab and KP elections

ISLAMABAD:THE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed dates for holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The ECP wrote leters to principal secretaries of Punjab and KP governors about the polling day.

The ECP has suggested to hold general elections in Punjab on any date between April 9 to 13 while in KP it proposed polling day on any day between April 15 and 17. The governors will decide about the final date for polling and inform the ECP.

The leter writen to the two governors also stated that it was the responsibility of the ECP to hold general elections within 90 days ater the dissolution of the assemblies and Article 224 of the Constitution mandated that “in case national assembly or provincial assembly is dissolved, a general election to the Assembly shall be held within ninety days of the dissolution of the assembly.”

It maintained that as per Article 105(3)(a) of the Constitution, the governor is required to fix a date, no later than ninety days from the date of dissolution for holding general elections to the assembly. It further stated that under Sub Section (1) of Section 57 of the Elections Act, 2017, consultation with the ECP was required for the fixation of the poll date.

KARACHI LG POLL RESULT: In a separate development, the final tally of the local government elections held on Jan.15 — released by the ECP — gives the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 91 seats in Karachi, which retains a slight edge over the Jamaat-e-islami (JI) that bagged 85 seats.

However,anupcominghearing,tobeconducted by the ECP over complaints of irregularities in six union commitees not counted in these results, could change the numbers game altogether.

The initial results had given the PPP 93 seats, followed by 86 to the JI and 40 to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI). Subsequent recounting and legal challenges have trimmed both the PPP and JI’S seat count, and increased the PTI’S by two.

The result of the complaints regarding irregularities in six union councils could once again change the numbers, but mainly for the JI and PPP.