Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said the government had not sought rescheduling of presidential elections, but only wanted polling at an earlier date in view of the 27th of Ramadan that could probably fall on the earlier announced date of August 6.
Speaking in a radio programme, the information minister said many parliamentarians would be busy in prayers‚ aitkaaf‚ or might be proceeding to Saudi Arabia for Umrah on the occasion.
“Therefore‚ the government has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections a few days earlier than schedule‚ so that no member of the Electoral College is deprived of the worship or right to vote.”
Rashid said there was no constitutional or legal bar in holding presidential elections pending by-elections.
He said vacancies in the Electoral College did not affect the presidential elections in anyway, as the outcome would be determined on basis of members present and voting.