EC extends bye-polls date till June 18

ISLAMABAD : Election Commission of Pakistan Thursday announced to extend the date of bye-election due to ongoing sessions of National and Provincial assemblies and insufficient time for political parties for the run of elections.
Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said, “it was difficult for the political parties to pay proper attention to the issue of awarding tickets to respective candidates and run their campaigns.”
“Therefore, in order to facilitate political parties and the candidates for attaining the tickets of parties of their choice, the schedule for the election is being revised,” he said.
Giving the fresh schedule for the polls, he said, the nomination papers would be filed between April 15 to May 6, scrutiny of nomination papers would take place from May 7 to May 13, 2008 and last date for filing of appeals on acceptance and rejection of the nomination papers would be May 17.
Last date for deciding the appeals by the tribunals has been set for May 24, last date for withdrawal of candidature would be May 26, final list would be issued on May 26 and the polling will be held on June 18, 2008.
The National Assembly constituencies of polling include NA-11 Mardan, NA-52 Rawalpindi, NA-55 Rawalpindi, NA-119 Lahore, NA-123 Lahore, NA-131 Sheikhupura, NA-147 Okara and NA-207 Larkana.
Moreover, the constituencies of polling form the Punjab Assembly provincial assembly include PP-10 Rawalpindi, PP-48 Bhakkar, PP-59 Faisalabad, PP-70 Faisalabad, PP-99 Gujranwala, PP-107 Hafizabad, PP-118 Mandi Bahauddin, PP-124 Sialkot, PP-141 Lahore, PP-154 Lahore, PP-171 Nankana Sahib, PP-219 Khanewal, PP-229 Pakpattan, PP-243 D G Khan, PP-258 Muzaffargarh, PP-277 Bahawalnagar and PP-295 Rahimyar Khan.
In Sindh, the constituencies of polling include PS-30 Khairpur, PS-44 Mattiari-cum-Hyderabad and PS-62 and in NWFP Assembly the constituencies are PF-20 Charsadda, PF-45 Abbottabad, PF-59 Battagram, PF-75 Lakki Marwat, PF-81 Swat, PF-91 Upper Dir-I and PF-92 Upper Dir-II.
From Balochistan province, the constituencies are PB-9 Pishin, PB-32 Jhal Magsi and PB-44 Lasbela.