ECP rejects Punjab’s plea for postponing NA-133 by-poll

Published November 2, 2021
The Election Commission of Pakistan had on October 18 announced the schedule for by-election in NA-133, setting December 5 as the poll date. — AFP/File
The Election Commission of Pakistan had on October 18 announced the schedule for by-election in NA-133, setting December 5 as the poll date. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday rejected a Punjab government’s plea for postponement of NA-133 (Lahore) by-election scheduled to be held on Dec 5.

Informed sources said the ECP took the decision at a meeting held to consider a request by the Punjab government for putting off the by-election till normalisation of the law and order situation in the province. It was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

The ECP decision came a day after the government and the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) reached an agreement, bringing the latter’s violent protest to an end.

The Punjab Home Department had written a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan, making a request for rescheduling the by-election in the provincial capital citing the current security situation as the reason.

The letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said the provincial government was committed to making all-out efforts to hold free and fair elections in a safe and secure environment in compliance with the ECP decision, but the TLP had started a violent long march towards Islamabad to exert pressure on the government for acceptance of its demands.

Provincial govt cited law and order situation as reason for seeking delay

“These protesters are seriously undermining the safety and security of lives and properties of the public at large. Consequently, several police personnel have been martyred and some of them seriously injured in the ongoing violent protest so far,” read the letter.

The letter further said that the District Intelligence Committee (DIC), Lahore, had in its meeting on October 28 strongly recommended rescheduling of the by-election owing to the current and future apprehended security scenario.

“Furthermore, it is pertinent to mention that the death anniversary of Mr Khadim Husain Rizvi (former TLP leader) is falling on 19.11.2021 and there is a grave apprehension that we may face a serious law and order situation during months after this date as well,” it said.

It requested the ECP to keep in view the law and order situation in coming months and reschedule the by-election in NA-133 till normalisation of the situation.

It noted that this would allow the provincial government, local administration and police to ensure a safe and secure election in the constituency.

The ECP had on October 18 announced the schedule for by-election in NA-133, setting December 5 as the poll date.

The seat fell vacant due to the death of PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik. The PML-N lawmaker died of heart complications on October 11. He was elected as the party’s MNA from Lahore’s NA-133 seat after general elections in 2018. He was also the party’s Lahore president.

Mr Malik’s wife, Shaista Pervaiz, and his son, Ali Pervaiz Malik, are also members of the National Assembly.

The nomination papers have already been filed by the candidates and the scrutiny process has also been completed.

November 3, under the schedule, is the last date for filing appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by the returning officer. November 9 is the last date for deciding the appeals by the appellate tribunal.

In an interesting development linked with the by-poll, the returning officer had on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Food Security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema for NA-133 (Lahore) by-poll over anomalies found in his candidature.

The nomination papers of his wife, Musarrat Cheema, who was his covering candidate, were also rejected for similar reasons. According to returning officer Syed Basit Ali Shah, the proposers for the two candidates are not residents of the constituency as required under the election laws.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...