Presidential elections: ECP asks senate, assemblies to provide member lists

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued letters to the Senate, Secretary of the National Assembly and Secretaries of the provincial assemblies asking for the list of members of the senate and assemblies to be provided as soon as possible in light of the upcoming presidential elections, Express News reported.

President Zardari’s five-year tenure is expiring on September 9 and a presidential election schedule needs to be announced 30 days prior to that date. According to the ECP, the chief election commissioner will be the returning officer for presidential election.

President Zardari is the first elected president of Pakistan who will complete his constitutional tenure. Besides that of the president, two other key offices will fall vacant this year – of chief of army staff and of chief justice of Pakistan.

President Zardari, who was also co-chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party till recently, plans to restart active politics after September. Constitutionally, the office of president is a symbol of the federation. Hence, the president has to be apolitical and non-partisan.

The list has been asked to be sorted alphabetically.