By-Elections 2024: ECP all set to conduct polls in 21 constituencies tomorrow
Twelve candidates are contesting for Balochistan’s PB-20 Khuzdar-II and PB-22 Lasbela constituencies.
ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan has finalised arrangements to hold by-elections in 21 constituencies of national and provincial assemblies.
The polling will be held for five national and 16 provincial assembly seats on April 21 (Sunday). Elections were originally scheduled for 23 constituencies.
However, the results of two of those seats, one provincial and one national, have already been announced.
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was elected unopposed from NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad, while Zubair Ahmad Junejo has been elected from PS-80 Dadu.
The National Assembly seats on which by-polls will take place include NA-8 Bajaur, NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan-I, NA-119 Lahore-III, NA-132 Kasur-II, NA-196 Kamber Shadadkot-I and NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I.
The elections on NA-8 Bajaur and PK-22 Bajaur-IV were suspended after a candidate contesting as independent on these constituencies was shot dead.
Meanwhile, NA-44 seat fell vacant after newly-elected KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur opted to retain his provincial seat from DI Khan.
The NA-119 Lahore-III seat was vacated by Maryam after she opted to retain the provincial seat which she had won, while NA-132 Kasur seat fell vacant after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to retain his NA-123 Lahore-VII seat.
PM Shehbaz had also won on Punjab Assembly seats — PP-158 and PP-164 — but since he opted his NA seat, the provincial assembly seats fell vacant.
Moreover, the NA seats from Sindh’s constituencies, NA-196 Kamber Shadadkot-I and NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I, were vacated after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto retained the seat he won in Larkana, while President Asif Ali Zardari gave up his seat following his election as the head of state.
The other provincial assembly seats on which by-polls will be held include Punjab’s PP-22 Chakwal-Cum-Talagang, PP-32 Gujrat-VI, PP-36 Wazirabad-II, PP-54 Narowal-|, PP-93 Bhakkar-V, PP-139 Sheikhupura-IV, PP-147 Lahore-III, PP-149 Lahore-V, PP-158 Lahore-XIV, PP-164 Lahore-XX, PP-266 Rahim Yar Khan-XII, PP-290 Dera Ghazi Khan-V; KP’s PK-22 Bajaur-IV, PK-91 Kohat-II; Balochistan’s PB-20 Khuzdar-III, PB-22 Lasbela; and Sindh’s PS-80 Dadu-I.
As many as 50 candidates will be contesting by-elections for the National Assembly’s five seats. A total of 23 candidates will be vying for two provincial assembly seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PK-22 Bajaur IV, PK-91 Kohat-II).
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Twelve candidates are contesting for Balochistan’s PB-20 Khuzdar-II and PB-22 Lasbela constituencies.
In Punjab a total of 154 candidates will be contesting for following seats PP-22 Chakwal/Talagang, PP-32 Gujrat-VI, P P-36 Wazirabad-II, PP-54 Narowal-I, PP-93 Bhakkar-V, PP-139 Sheikhupura-IV, PP-147 Lahore-III, PP-149 Lahore-V, PP-158 Lahore-XIV, PP-164 Lahore-XX, PP-266 RY Khan XII and PP-290 DG-Khan-V.
Meanwhile, the election campaign for by-elections in 21 constituencies of national and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan concluded at midnight falling between the April 19th and 20th.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has advised that candidates who continue engaging in political activities after this deadline will face legal consequences.
Additionally, the ECP called upon the media and the public to work together to uphold a free, fair, and transparent election process. The commission reminded the candidates participating in the by-elections about Section 182 of the Election Act, 2017.
This section prohibits individuals from organizing, attending, or participating in any public meetings or processions within the constituency’s area for a period of 48 hours after the polls end, until midnight.
The ECP cautioned that those who breach these regulations could be subject to penalties such as imprisonment for a maximum of two years, a fine of up to Rs100,000, or both.
Arrangements have almost been completed to hold the by-elections in five National and 16 provincial assembly constituencies in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan on April 21.
