Daily Times

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has unveiled the timetable for the upcoming presidential election.

According to Express News, the ECP will release the official schedule and public notice for the election of the president on March 1. In accordance with constitutional provisions, a specific day will be designated for the submission of nomination papers, and candidates have the option to submit these papers to any presiding officer.

Starting today, all potential candidates can obtain their nomination papers from the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad and the Provincial Election Commissioners. The formation of the Electoral College, a crucial component for the presidential election, is set to conclude on February 29.

Emphasising the constitutional framework, the ECP underscored that, as per Article 41, the election of the president must be conducted within 30 days following the conclusion of general elections.

Meanwhile, the ECP reserved its judgment on Tuesday on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s plea challenging the election victory of PTI’s candidate from NA-15 Mansehra. The PML-N leader’s counsel Javed Jadoon as well as PTI-backed candidate Shahzada Gustashap Khan’s counsel, Babar Awan, completed their arguments on the case today. A two-member bench of the ECP headed by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani conducted the hearing.

During the hearing, Nawaz’s counsel argued that they received a copy of the returning officer’s (RO) response yesterday evening, claiming that they did not receive Form 45s of 123 polling stations.

The ECP Sindh member asked Jadoon if there was a stay on the release of final election results. “Yes,” the counsel replied.

The counsel further stated that, “The ballot boxes were not sealed,” adding that this constituency witnessed “greater rigging and vote-tampering than in Daska”. The RO was booked in the case but he fell sick and vanished after being shifted to the hospital, he alleged, adding that the counting of votes continued till 4 am the next morning.

Nawaz’s lawyer termed the election “unconstitutional, illegal, and against election rules”. ECP Member Punjab Babar Hassan Bharwana inquired if he thought the same regarding the elections held across the country.

The PML-N lawyer responded, “I am only talking about the irregularities in the elections held in NA-15,” urging the ECP judges to order a re-election.

PTI candidate’s counsel Awan argued, “If the seals of the bags were broken, then the matter should be sent to the tribunal for investigation. The FIR registered against the RO cannot is not enough evidence. The ECP is neither a court nor a tribunal, it cannot record testimonies.”.

Awan added, “There were no major complaints regarding the election till 1 AM on February 8.” He said Nawaz lost the seat as per the results of February 8.

“The ECP has formed tribunals, the matter regarding NA-15 should be sent to a tribunal,” Babar said.