A security guard outside the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad on September 21, 2023. Photo: AFP
PESHAWAR:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially informed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly about the arrangements for the Senate by-election scheduled for April 23, directing all members to bring their original CNIC and Assembly membership cards while voting.
In an official letter sent to the Assembly Secretariat, the ECP said the by-election for the vacant Senate seat will be held on April 23. The committee directed the Secretariat to inform all MPAs that it is mandatory to present both their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and Assembly Membership Card at the time of voting. MPAs were advised to ensure they carry both documents.
In the meantime, differences have emerged within the opposition parties regarding the presentation of a common candidate in the Senate by-election. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) failed to reach an agreement, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) withdrew from the contest.
The opposition parties had initially decided to present a consensus candidate for the vacant Senate seat. The nomination papers were submitted by Maulana Abdul Haseeb of JUI-F, Raheela Bibi of PPP and Asghar of PML-N. A parliamentary committee recently interviewed the candidates and ordered the PPP candidate to withdraw her papers. However, the JUI-F and the PML-N held firm on their respective candidates and no agreement could be reached between the two parties.
