ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that a by-election will be held on December 9 for the Senate seat that became vacant following the death of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Parliamentary Leader in the Upper House, Irfan Siddiqui, last week.
In this context, the ECP issued a schedule for the by-poll on Monday, according to which the public notice inviting nominations for the said by-election would be issued today (Tuesday), whereas polling would be held on 9 December in the Punjab Assembly.
Siddiqui passed away on November 10 in Islamabad following a prolonged illness. He was elected to the Senate on a general seat from Punjab in March 2021.
Article 224(5) of the Constitution of Pakistan provides that when a seat in the Senate becomes vacant, an election to fill the said seat shall be held within 30 days from the occurrence of the vacancy.
In addition, an election to fill the seat in the Senate which is to become vacant on the expiration of the term of a senator shall be held not earlier than 30 days immediately preceding the day on which this vacancy is due to occur, states the Constitution’s Article 224(3).
Apart from that, any candidate who would be elected to the Senate on the seat that fell vacant following Siddiqui’s death, would remain in office till the completion of the late senator’s unexpired term, till March 2027.
The Section 129(2) of the Elections Act, 2017 provides that if a candidate is elected as member of the Senate on a seat which has become vacant or a seat declared vacant, or a seat where election of a member of the Senate is declared void, and another candidate is declared to have been elected in their place, the term of such candidate shall be the unexpired term of such member.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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