• Home
  • E-Paper
  • Archive
  • Contact us
  • Daily Pakistan
Monday, March 27, 2023
  • Login
Daily The Patriot
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • National
  • City
  • World
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Technology
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • E-Paper
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • National
  • City
  • World
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Technology
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • E-Paper
No Result
View All Result
Daily The Patriot
No Result
View All Result
Home Editorial

Holding elections

by NewsDesk
January 28, 2023
in Editorial
0
Holding elections
0
SHARES
21
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

These elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies and the formal vacation of the NA seats, as mandated by Article 224 of the Constitution

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Friday that by-elections for 33 National Assembly (NA) seats would be held on March 16. The seats were vacated after NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf moved quickly to accept the resignations of PTI lawmakers and AML chief Sheikh Rashid, which had been pending since April 2022, in an apparent attempt to thwart the opposition’s alleged plan to bring a confidence motion against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to the notification, the returning officers (RO) would issue a public notice in this regard on February 3. From February 6 to 8, candidates can submit their nomination papers to the RO. A few days ago, the ECP proposed holding elections for the legislatures of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between April 9 and 17.

These developments demonstrate that the wheels are in motion. The ECP has begun its preparations to hold elections for the assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, as well as 33 seats in the National Assembly from 93 recently vacated NA seats. These elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies and the formal vacation of the NA seats, as mandated by Article 224 of the Constitution.

Those dates indicate that the ECP wants the elections to take place near the end of the 90-day window, in the second half of Ramazan. The dates for the NA by-elections have not yet been set.

While there is no legal prohibition on holding elections for some assemblies early and others later, it has never been done. The situation’s novelty has given rise to some intriguing speculation and concerns. More than two-thirds of the seats usually contested in a general election are represented by the seats for which the ECP must organise elections in the next three months.

Because the funds previously budgeted for the general election are no longer sufficient, the watchdog has been forced to seek a supplementary grant to fund this massive exercise. While elections for provincial assemblies will return lawmakers who can serve for a maximum of five years, elections for seats in the National Assembly will need to be held again once the current assembly is disbanded.

There are also concerns about whether the electoral body will be able to protect election integrity if elections are held under partisan governments. The Daska debacle comes to mind. The ECP may have successfully avoided being hijacked by the current government, but it should be noted that this was a small-scale by-election. While it is the ECP’s responsibility to deliver whether the elections are held under an elected government or a caretaker government, the job will be difficult given the political climate and the stakes.

The decision to hold elections during the month of fasting must also be reconsidered, as both preparations and turnout are likely to suffer as a result of the overall slowdown in activity during the period. It appears that holding two large-scale elections rather than one will require significantly more time, effort, and money, and controversies will continue to plague them. Is the public good truly better served this way? At this point, there is only one question that needs to be asked.

Tags: (ECP)33 National Assembly (NA) seatselectionsMarch 16National AssemblyPrime Minister Shehbaz SharifptiPunjab and Khyber PakhtunkhwaRaja Pervez Ashraf
NewsDesk

NewsDesk

Next Post
India remains unresponsive

India remains unresponsive

Latest News

T20I, ODI teams will be led by Babar Azam against New Zealand
Sports

T20I, ODI teams will be led by Babar Azam against New Zealand

by NewsDesk
March 27, 2023
0

In the forthcoming T20I and ODI series against New Zealand, Babar Azam will assume captaincy duties once more. After talking...

Read more
Akanksha Dubey, an Indian actress, was found dead in hotel

Akanksha Dubey, an Indian actress, was found dead in hotel

March 27, 2023
Imran Khan is given interim bail in seven cases by IHC

Imran Khan is given interim bail in seven cases by IHC

March 27, 2023
Rain is expected in Karachi on March 29 and 30

Rain is expected in Karachi on March 29 and 30

March 27, 2023
Pakistani rupee depreciates against dollar in interbank market

Pakistani rupee depreciates against dollar in interbank market

March 27, 2023
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • National
  • City
  • World
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Technology
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • E-Paper
Call us: 051-233-1674

© 2023DAILY PATRIOT - For the latest news updates from the Daily Patriot. Download Our Apps image description image description

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • National
  • City
  • World
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Technology
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • E-Paper

© 2023DAILY PATRIOT - For the latest news updates from the Daily Patriot. Download Our Apps image description image description

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In