ECP postpones by-elections on 37 National Assembly seats

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday postponed by-elections scheduled for March 16 and 19, on 37 National Assembly seats, in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan and the federal capital,  pursuant to orders issued by various courts,

In its notification, the electoral watchdog said, “Pursuant to the orders dated 3rd March 2023 passed by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), in the writ petition, No.762-P/2023 tided Sher Ali Arbab and others Vs Speaker National Assembly and others and Writ Petition No.763-P/2023 titled Imran Khattak and others Vs Speaker National Assembly and others respectively. The ECP hereby suspends its notifications of election programme No. F.8(2)/2023-Cord(1) dated 27th January 2023 and F.8(2)/2023-Cord(1) dated 3rd February 2023 to the extent of the following constituencies till further orders of the PHC, in the said writ petitions.”

In Sindh, by-elections scheduled to be held in nine NA constituencies include NA-241 Korangi Karachi-III, NA-242 Karachi East 1, NA 243 Karachi East-II, NA-244 Karachi East-II, NA-247 Karahci Sourth-II, NA-250 Karachi West-III, NA-254 Karachi West-V, NA-254 Karachi Central-II and NA-256 Karachi Central-IV.

ECP has also postponed the by-polls in the NA-265 Quetta-II constituency by complying with the order of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) till further the court.

The ECP has postponed the by-polls on the three NA constituencies in Islamabad pursuant to the order of the Islamabad High court (IHC) till further order from the court.

The constituencies where by-polls are postponed include NA-52 Islamabad-1, NA53 Islamabad-II, and NA 54 Islamabad-III.