ECP names POs for presidential polls

PML-N and PPP commence campaigning for joint candidates for coveted positions

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has appointed presiding officers (POs) for the upcoming presidential election, the schedule for which will be announced tomorrow, March 1.

According to a notification issued by the polls oversight authority on Wednesday, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Aamer Farooq, will act as the PO at the Senate and the National Assembly, the upper and lower houses of parliament, respectively.

At the Punjab Assembly, the ECP’s provincial member, Nisar Durrani, will perform the duty as the presiding officer.

The chief justices of the Sindh High Court (SHC), the Peshawar High Court (PHC), and the Balochistan High Court (BHC) will act as the POs at the Sindh Assembly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly, and Balochistan Assembly, respectively.

The presiding officers will collect nomination papers of presidential candidates and oversee the polling process in the relevant assemblies during the presidential election, the notification added.

On Tuesday, the ECP commenced issuing nomination papers to candidates for the presidential election.
According to an ECP spokesperson, candidates could submit their nomination papers at the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad, as well as the offices of provincial election commissioners in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and K-P until 12 noon on March 2.

The spokesperson stated that the schedule and public notice for the presidential elections would be issued on March 1. Quoting Article 41(4) of the Constitution, she emphasized that the presidential election must be conducted within 30 days of the general elections.

She added that according to Articles 91 and 130 of the Constitution, the first session of all assemblies was mandatory within 21 days of the general elections.

"By February 29, all assemblies will begin working to complete the electoral colleges needed for the presidential election," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, the PML-N and the PPP—the two largest parties in the potential ruling coalition—have formed a committee to campaign for the election of the NA speaker, prime minister, and president of the country, sources said.

The committee includes PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq and Rana Tanveer Hussain and PPP’s Khurshid Shah and Naveed Qamar.

“The committee will meet tonight with the leaders of the PML-Q, IPP, and the JUI-F and seek votes for their joint candidates. The committee will also contact other parties after the oath-taking of lawmakers,” a source said.