The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finalised the schedule for Senate elections on Monday, setting March 3 as the date of the polling.

A returning officer (RO) will issue a public notice on February 3, while nomination papers will be filed between February 4 and 6, the commission announced.

Following the scrutiny of nomination papers by February 9, a list of candidates will be issued on February 15, allowing candidates to withdraw nominations by the following day.

A formal notification by the commission will be issued on February 2.

A total of 52 Senators in the house of 104 are set to retire following the completion of their six-year term. The biggest loser of the exercise will be the PPP, whose 18 Senators, including Chairman Raza Rabbani, will be replaced by newcomers.

Nine Senators from the ruling PML-N are also among those retiring but the party is expected to gain seats by the exercise, despite the recent upheaval in Balochistan Assembly which saw PML-Q's Abdul Quddus Bizenjo replacing PML-N's Sanaullah Zehri for the chief minister slot.

“Asif Ali Zardari’s dinner for Balochistan CM Bizenjo and his cabinet depicts that the PPP has become a partner in the ‘joint venture’ [to oust the PML-N majority government] to secure a few seats in the Senate,” Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said regarding the development on Friday.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...