Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announces revised schedule for Punjab polls, sets May 14 as new election date.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently issued a revised schedule for Punjab Assembly polls on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court (SC) that the elections be held on May 14 instead of the previously notified date of October 8. The revised schedule was issued in a notification that cited the apex court's order of the previous day in a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the ECP's decision to delay the Punjab Assembly elections from the originally decided date of April 30 to October 8.
Elections to the Punjab Assembly have been due since January this year when the house was dissolved. In early March, the ECP had proposed that the elections be held between April 30 and May 7, and subsequently, President Arif Alvi accepted the commission's recommendations by setting April 30 as the date for the polls. The date was officially notified by the electoral watchdog on March 8, but it was later deferred to October 8 in another notification issued by the ECP on March 22.
The decision to delay the election had been met with criticism from various political parties, including the PTI, which had argued that it would give an unfair advantage to the ruling party in Punjab, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The PTI had filed a petition in the SC challenging the ECP's decision, which was heard on April 4, 2023. In its ruling, the SC directed the ECP to hold the elections on May 14, 2023, and to issue a revised schedule in line with this decision.
Following the SC's directives, the ECP issued the revised schedule on April 5, which sets April 10 as the last date for the filing of appeals against the decisions of the returning officer rejecting or accepting the candidates' nomination papers. The appellate tribunal can decide these appeals by April 17, and a revised list of candidates has to be issued by April 18. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature and the publication of another revised list of candidates has been set as April 19, following which symbols have to be assigned to candidates by April 20.
The Punjab Assembly has 371 seats, of which 148 are reserved for women and 33 for non-Muslims. The election is expected to be closely contested between the PML-N, the PTI, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), among other political parties. The PML-N has been in power in Punjab since 2018, and its chief minister, Usman Buzdar, is seeking re-election. The PTI and the PPP, on the other hand, have been in opposition in the province and are hoping to secure a majority in the assembly.
The election is of significant importance as it will determine the political landscape of Punjab, which is the most populous province in Pakistan and contributes significantly to the country's economy. The outcome of the election will also have implications for national politics, as the ruling party in Punjab often wields significant influence in federal politics.
In conclusion, the revised schedule for the Punjab Assembly polls has been issued by the ECP in accordance with the SC's directives to hold the elections on May 14, 2023. The election is expected to be closely contested between the PML-N, the PTI, and the PPP, and its outcome will have significant implications for both provincial and national politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment