Daily Times

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the time for polling in the July 25 general election by an hour to ensure maximum participation, said a statement issued by the commission on Friday.

Polling will now take place uninterrupted from 8am to 6pm on the Election Day.

On Wednesday, the ECP turned down a request by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to extend the polling time for three hours. In a letter sent to the commission on Tuesday, the PTI had requested that in view of the ongoing spell of summer heat, the polling time should be extended till 8pm.

Meanwhile, the commission is set to announce the updated polling scheme and the final list of candidates on Saturday (today).

The deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers as well as submission of party tickets by candidates ended at 4pm on Friday. It is mandatory for candidates to submit their party tickets to be allotted the party’s electoral symbols on the ballot papers. Those who fail to do so will be considered independent candidates.

The election tribunals set up all over the country have wrapped up their verdicts on appeals against objections to decisions of returning officers. A final list of candidates eligible to participate in the July 25 election will be displayed at offices of the returning officers and district returning officers on Saturday (today).

In the statement issued on Friday, the ECP maintained that candidates had a total of 23 days to hold their campaigns. All campaign activities would end on the midnight of July 23.

Published in Daily Times, June 30^th 2018.