ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued on Thursday schedule for the presidential elections, less than a month before the tenure of President Mamnoon Hussain is going to expire.
As per the schedule, the elections will be held on September 4, while the term of Mamnoon Hussain will end on 9 of the same month.
The election date is contrary to what has been described by the Constitution under which the presidential election must be held at least a month before the expiry of incumbent’s tenure. In current situation, the election should have been held on August 8.
But, holding the presidential polls in August was not possible as the national and provincial assemblies were not functional at that time.
The president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies through secret ballot system.
According to the ECP schedule, the deadline for filing of nomination papers, which can submitted to presiding officers in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta, is Aug 27.
The Returning Officer will scrutinise the papers in Islamabad on Aug 29, while candidates could withdraw their nomination papers by Aug 30.
On September 4, voting for the election will be started at 10 am at all the four provincial assemblies and Parliament House, Islamabad.
