The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued the much-awaited election schedule for the general elections to be held on Feb 8, 2024, after the Supreme Court suspended an order of the subordinate judiciary, which had led to pausing the training of the returning officers responsible for monitoring electoral activities and casting a shadow over timely elections.
A cloud of potential delay loomed large on general elections and uncertainty surrounded the country for a brief period after a judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the training of officers tasked with supervising electoral activities over a PTI petition.
Soon after the decision, the interim government spokesperson and bigwigs of the political parties not only started raising alarms about the fate of general elections but also blamed the PTI for allegedly delaying polls beyond the scheduled date of Feb 8, 2024.
For roughly 24 hours, the country was gripped with apprehensions about the polls’ fate as it was feared that the elections would not be held on Feb 8 as announced by ECP and President Dr Arif Alvi after the SC intervened in the matter, vowing no one would be allowed to delay the elections beyond the announced date and derail democracy.
Though the ECP was quick to issue a statement on Thursday denying the news items that it was mulling on approaching the top court against the LHC order, it had to chew its words on Friday when it approached the apex court seeking its help to continue election activities for holding timely elections.
Also read: SC suspends LHC verdict, orders ECP to issue poll schedule today
Subsequently, the SC suspended the LHC order, noting that the high court judge committed misconduct by suspending the elections notification and ordered the ECP to immediately issue the election schedule so that polls were not delayed.
The ECP complied with the direction and issued the election schedule.
According to the election schedule, the public notice will be issued by the returning officer on Dec 19 and the candidates can file nomination papers with the returning officers between Dec 20 and 22 this year.
The names of the nominated candidates would be published on Dec 23 while the scrutiny of the nomination papers by the returning officers would continue between Dec 24 and 30.
The last date for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officers rejecting or accepting the nomination papers would be completed on Jan 3, 2024, and the last date for deciding the appeals by the appellate tribunal is fixed for Jan 10, 2024.
The ECP would publish the revised list of the candidates on Jan 11 next year. The last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of a revised list of candidates is Jan 12, 2024.
The poll body will allot election symbol to the contesting candidates on Jan 13 and polling will be held on Feb 8, 2024.
While referring to Article 224(2) read with Article 254 of the Constitution and Section 57(2) of the Elections Act of 2017 as well as all other powers, the ECP’s notification “calls upon the electors of the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to elect their representatives from each of the constituencies to the general seats”.
Subsequently, the ECP issued the election programme. The notification stated that the election programme also applies to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the national and provincial assemblies.
It said that the last date for filing of separate priority list for seats reserved for women and minorities before the returning officers is Dec 22, 2023.
Initially, the year 2023 was dubbed as the election year but several factors, including the previous PML-N led coalition government’s decision to approve census results just days before dissolving the National Assembly three days’ ahead of its five-year term and the tussle between the ECP and the president over the announcement of polls’ date, contributed to taking the polls to the year 2024.
Though the elections have already been delayed beyond the constitutionally mandated 90-day period, the Supreme Court recently pushed the ECP to approach the president for finalising the polls’ date and once the date was finalised, it vowed that no one would be allowed to delay the polls any further come what may.
Friday’s late-night proceedings at the top court demonstrated its commitment as it not only took notice of the LHC’s decision but directed the ECP to announce the election schedule before the clock changed the date.
ECP complied with the orders and announced the polls’ schedule before midnight.
CEC lauds SC for paving way for polls
Separately, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja affirmed that the election schedule was ready and dismissed any notion of suggesting a potential delay in the polls, while announcing that the training process for the returning officers would resume following the SC decision.
He lauded the apex court for resolving the issue by suspending the LHC’s order, ensuring that the elections would proceed as planned on Feb 8.
During an interaction with journalists, the CEC advised to seek confirmation before reporting on the matters, clarifying that he never indicated any possibility of delaying the elections.
Reflecting on his meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), Raja described it as productive, affirming the commitment to ensuring a level-playing field for all parties.
"All PTI cases will be decided based on merit," he assured.
While expressing discontent about remarks made by the PTI concerning his spouse, Raja clarified his stance: "I hold no animosity towards the PTI, they had nominated me for this position."
Acknowledging the polarising nature of his role, he said: "In these positions, it's impossible to keep everyone happy.
"Not just politicians, but many people are dissatisfied with me. The PTI members criticise publicly but subsequently apologise when they come to the commission.
“The opinions, whether critical or approving, from any party don't affect the situation.”
Earlier, the CEC Raja and CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa held discussions regarding the LHC's verdict's potential impact on the electoral process.
In the high-level meeting, attended by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Tariq Masood, CEC Raja provided insights to the apex court judges concerning the LHC's decision on Dec 14.
The LHC ruling suspended the Election Commission's notification that sought the appointment of returning officers and district returning officers from the bureaucratic ranks for the upcoming general elections scheduled for Feb 8, 2024.
Addressing concerns about the appointment of returning officers while talking to journalists, Raja highlighted the commission’s choice to enlist officers from the bureaucratic ranks following high court refusals.
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