By-Polls for Karachi's NA-246 to be held on April 23

Seat fell vacant after Nabil Gabol resigned following differences with MQM

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Tuesday to hold by-polls Karachi's NA-246 on April 23, 2015.

The NA-246 seat fell vacant after Nabil Gabol, who was elected on a ticket of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the 2013 general elections, resigned from his seat last week after developing differences with the party.

 

Read: Nabil Gabol resigns from MQM, National Assembly

 

The ECP issued the schedule, which states that the process of election will start from March 13. Contestants could file their nominations between March 17 and 19, while the scrutiny of candidates will be held on March 19 and 20.

On the completion of all the formalities, a final list of contestants will be displayed on April 2, 2015.

The regional election commissioner of Karachi will act as district returning officer while district election commissioner Karachi will be performing the duties of returning officer during the polls.

In March, 2013, Gabol left the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after two decades to join the MQM. He also served as an MNA from Lyari with the PPP. At the time, Gabol claimed he was being sidelined and that the PPP was no more a party of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

 

Read: PPP's Nabil Gabol joins MQM

 

Gabol, who played a major role in the development of the Gwadar Port in 2008, has previously been the speaker of the assembly and has twice been appointed as mayor of Karachi.