- Election Commission announces by-polls in NA-122, NA-154 on October 11
Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have decided not to step down as demanded by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the commission on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza.
They pointed out that Lawyers Forum of PTI has already filed a reference in the Supreme Judicial Council, which is the proper and competent forum for deciding such matters. Therefore, the concerned members would not take any decision about their resignations till the final decision of the Supreme Judicial Council.
The members also pointed out that they have been systematically ridiculed and stigmatised with false and baseless allegations of rigging about which they strongly feel to be adjudicated upon.
BY-POLLS ANNOUNCEMENT:
In the meanwhile, the ECP on Monday issued the schedule of by-election in NA-122 constituency of Lahore and NA-154 constituency of Lodhran which would be held on October 11.
Nomination papers would be received on September 10 and 11 whereas scrutiny of nomination papers would take place on September 14 and 15.
The last date for decision on appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers would be September 19 and candidates can withdraw their nomination by September 21 when the final list of the contestants would be published.
The NA-122 seat fell vacant after the election tribunal de-seated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq over massive irregularities in the polling process while the NA-154 seat was vacated after disqualification of PML-N MNA Siddique Baloch over a petition filed by PTI leader Jahangir Tareen against alleged rigging in the constituency during the General Election 2013.
