By-polls in NA-61 next month

The ECP announced the schedule for the by-election in NA-61 Chakwal which had fallen vacant after MNA Tamman resigned.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission on Thursday announced the schedule for the by-election in NA-61 Chakwal, which had fallen vacant after PML-N MNA Muhammad Faiz Tamman resigned two months ago.

The by-polls in the constituency will be held in October. The ECP restrained to announce the date for the by-polls in the constituency since former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi had moved to the high court with the plea that his election petition challenging the results during the 2008 general polls in the constituency was still pending.

He also pleaded that after the resignation of Tamman he should be declared successful since he was already a runner-up in the constituency. However, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench lifted the stay order and rejected Ellahi’s plea.

According to a notification, a public notice will be issued by the returning officer on September 15.

September 22 has been fixed as the last date for intending candidates to file their nominations. Scrutiny of these nomination papers will be held from September 24. Appeals against decisions of the returning officer rejecting/accepting the nomination papers could be filed by September 29, while the tribunals will make a decision on these appeals by October 1.

The commission has fixed October 4 as the last date for the withdrawal of candidature.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2010.