LAHORE – The Election Commission of Pakistan announced on Friday to extend the polling time for one hour for the upcoming general elections, set to be held on July 25.
According to a press release, the polling will continue for ten hours interruptedly during 8am to 6pm. ECP said that the purpose to extend the time is to ensure the maximum participation of the public in the voting process.
The development comes as the election body rejected on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s request to extend polling time for the coming polls.
The electoral body remarked that the polling time will be from 8am to 5pm, adding that it can’t be extended.
The polling time will be extended in a situation of extreme emergency on the day of the election, the ECP noted.
On Tuesday, Imran Khan-led PTI had written a letter to secretary ECP requesting for an extension in the polling for elections.
According to the PTI, the hot weather will bar people from leaving their houses in the morning to cast their votes, therefore, ECP should extend the polling time.
