By-polls: ECP changes schedule

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday postponed the schedule of by-elections on 10 national and provincial seats on the directives of Supreme Court, fixing February 25, 2012 as polling day, instead of February 20.

According to the ECP, the decision has been made in pursuance of the apex court order on January 19, asking the Commission to stop holding by-elections on old voter lists owing to a large number of bogus votes.

The constituencies for National Assembly vacant seats where the by-election schedule was cancelled include NA-9 Mardan-I, NA-140 Kasur-III, NA-148 Multan-I, NA-149 Multan-II, NA-195 R.Y.Khan-IV, PP-44 Mianwali-II and NA -158 Vehari. Whereas, the provincial assemblies vacant seats include: PP -18 Attock, PP-44 Mianwali, PS-57 Badin and PS -53 Tandu Muhammad Khan where February 25, 2012 has been fixed as the new date for by-election.

Additionally, for all the constituencies the ECP also fixed February 3 as date for public notice to be issued by the Returning Officer, February 6 and 7 as dates for filing of nomination papers, February 9 and 9 as dates for scrutiny of nomination papers, February 11 as last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer rejecting/accepting the nomination papers.

February 14 has been fixed as last date for deciding appeals by the tribunal and February 15 as last date for withdrawal of candidature. According to ECP the revised list of candidates would be published on February 15.