An Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official announced that there are 239 candidates competing for 23 available seats in the national and provincial assemblies in the upcoming by-elections scheduled for April 21.
The Election Commission of Pakistan official stated that Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the first lady, has already been elected without any opposition for NA 207. According to the news agency ANI report, the official mentioned that there was a total of 23 candidates competing for the vacant seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, while 154 candidates were striving for success in Punjab. In Sindh, Zubair Ahmed Junejo secured his seat unopposed on PS-80.
There are 12 candidates running for the vacant seats in the Balochistan Assembly. The Commission plans to start printing the ballot papers for the by-elections once the candidate lists are finalized by the returning officers on March 30th.
Provincial election commissioners have received the required election materials. Moreover, district Returning Officers and Returning Officers are carrying out their responsibilities in line with the set election timetable.
The Presiding officers are authorized to utilize these powers throughout the by-elections in five national and 16 provincial assemblies in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, from April 20 to 22, until the official announcement of final results for the candidates. Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs) have the authority to penalize candidates who breach the code of conduct established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The officers possess the same authority as a Magistrate first class for offenses in Sections 169 and 171. They are able to commence legal actions under Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and carry out summary trials according to Chapter XX of the code. Please be aware that by-elections are scheduled for April 21 for 21 constituencies of National and Provincial Assemblies.
