ISLAMABAD: Following the installation of caretaker governments in the two provinces on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Election Commission of Pakistan contacted the leaders in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday and suggested dates for the elections.
It recommended holding elections in Punjab between April 9 and 13 and in KP between April 15 and 17. Syed Mohsin Naqvi sworn in as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab on January 22. Similarly, Mohammad Azam Khan as the caretaker CM of KP on January 21.
Just four days after the Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 14, KP Assembly was dissolved on January 18. Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI, declared on December 17 that his administrations in Punjab and KP will dissolve their legislatures to allow for new elections.
A general election for the assembly must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Parliament or a provincial assembly, and the results must be announced no later than 14 days after the polls have closed, according to Article 224.
The ECP advised Punjab in a letter to schedule elections for April 9 to April 13. The election date cannot be later than April 13, mentioned in the statement. Moreover, it also stated that a minimum of 54 days would be needed to complete all of the activities included in the election program complying section 57(2) of the Elections Act of 2017.
The ECP requested that officials set a date for elections in the province between April 15 and April 17 in a letter addressed to the governor of KP’s senior secretary. The provincial government was reminded by the electoral authority not to extend the scheduled deadline for the effective date of the law.
Leave a Reply