The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued a schedule of upcoming senate elections set to take place on April 2.
As per schedule, the returning officers will issue a public notice for all prospective candidates to submit their nomination papers. The electoral body will then scrutinise nomination papers and handle appeals.
The development comes as the ECP, on Monday, announced holding the election for Senate seats that were vacated after the expiration of the six-year term of the incumbent senators on March 11. However, elections will only be held on 48 seats as four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have been abolished after the 25th Constitutional Amendment.
Members of the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan assemblies will vote to elect members for seven general seats, two women, and two seats for technocrats, including Ulema.
However, Punjab and Sindh assembly members will cast their votes for one seat each for non-Muslims.
As per the ECP’s schedule,
March 15 to 16 — Submission of nomination papers.
March 17 — Publication of nominated candidates.
March 19 — Last date for scrutiny of nomination papers.
March 21 — Last date for filing of appeals against acceptance, rejection of nominations.
March 25 — Last date for disposal of appeals by the tribunal.
March 26 — Publication of revised list of candidates.
March 27 — Date for withdrawal of candidature.
April 2 — Polling day.
