General polls: ECP issues election schedule after SC order

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued the election schedule for the upcoming February 8 general polls in compliance with the Supreme Court (SC) order issued earlier, ARY News reported.

According to a notification issued by the electoral watchdog, the public notice would be issued by the Returning Officer (RO) on December 19 with the dates for filing nominations from Dec 20-22.

The ECP, in its notification, stated that the names of the nominated candidates would be published on Dec 23 while the last date for scrutiny of their nomination papers would be from Dec 24-30.

Moreover, the last date for filing appeals against the decisions of Returning Officer (RO) on rejecting or accepting nomination papers is January 3. The last date for deciding the appeals by an appellate tribunal on Jan 10.

The notification stated that the revised list of candidates will be published on Jan 11 and the last date for withdrawal pf candidature is Jan 12.

Meanwhile, the electoral watchdog said that election symbols will be allotted to political parties on Jan 13 with polls set for Feb 8.

“The election programme shall also apply to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National and provincial assemblies. Last date of filling of separate priority list for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims before the ROs is Dec 22,” the notification concluded.

The development came hours after Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan ordered the ECP to announce the election schedule by tonight as it suspended a Lahore High Court (LHC) order on the appointment of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy, which cast uncertainty over holding of general polls.

The Pakistan Supreme Court also issued a contempt of court notice to Barrister Umair Niazi – who filed the petition on behalf of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – seeking an explanation as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

‘Level-playing field for all’

During an informal meeting with journalists today, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Raja Sultan vowed to provide a level-playing field for all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“I had never said the elections would be delayed in the country. It is better to do the confirmation before the dissemination of the news,” the CEC told journalists.

CEC Raja Sultan also pointed out the meeting with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, after which the electoral body moved Supreme Court against LHC order on appointment of ROs and DROs from bureaucracy.

He noted that the names of each RO were checked before finalisation, highlighting that it was the ECP’s duty to ensure a level playing field for all the political parties.

Responding to a question regarding the country’s security situation, CEC Raja said: “The security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is alarming, but I am hopeful.”