Qaiser to issue production orders for lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has decided to issue production orders for parliamentarians so that they can vote in the upcoming Senate elections, confirmed sources. Sources from the leader of the Opposition's office told Geo News that production orders for those who are currently in jail will be issued, adding that it is the right of every parliamentarian to vote.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif are the notable PML-N lawmakers who are in jail.

On the other hand, PPP's Khursheed Shah and MNA Ali Wazir Khan are also under arrest. Sources confirmed that production orders for the four parliamentarians have been sent to the speaker. The parliamentarians will be brought to Islamabad on March 2, a day before the Senate polls are held.

A few days earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released the schedule for the Senate elections, according to which the polls will be held on March 3. According to the ECP, the last date for filing of nomination papers is February 13. This will be followed by a scrutiny process for the nominations which will be completed by February 12 while the last date for filing of appeals against acceptance or rejection of papers is February 18.

The date for disposal of appeals is February 20 and the revised list of the contestants will be issued later on February 21 while the candidates can use option of withdrawal of candidature till February 22. The committee also requests those to share information who might have firsthand knowledge of the incident.