Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced schedules for by-elections in six constituencies of the National and Punjab Assemblies, with polling set to take place on two different dates in September and October.
According to the ECP, polling in NA-66 Wazirabad, NA-129 Lahore, and PP-87 Mianwali will be held on September 18, while by-elections in NA-143 Sahiwal, NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan, and PP-203 Sahiwal are scheduled for October 5.
Nomination papers for the September 18 by-polls must be submitted by August 6, with a provisional list of candidates published on August 7. Election symbols for these constituencies will be issued on August 26. For the October 5 by-polls, nomination papers can be filed between August 28 and 30, with symbols allotted on September 16.
The NA-66 seat fell vacant after the disqualification of PTI lawmaker Ahmed Chattha, while PP-87 Mianwali was vacated following the disqualification of Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly. NA-129 Lahore became vacant after the demise of MNA Mian Azhar.
The other three seats — NA-143 Sahiwal, NA-185 DG Khan, and PP-203 Sahiwal — fell vacant due to the disqualification of PTI leaders Rai Hassan Nawaz, Zartaj Gul, and Rai Murtaza Iqbal. Zartaj Gul and Rai Murtaza Iqbal were sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad in connection with the May 9 riots, while Rai Hassan Nawaz, earlier disqualified for concealing assets, was also convicted over May 9 violence.
The by-polls are being closely watched as they will not only test PTI’s organizational strength following the disqualification of several of its senior leaders but could also potentially reshape political alignments in Punjab ahead of the next general elections.
