ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken a significant stride in the electoral process by unveiling the election schedule for three vacant Senate seats from Balochistan.
The polling, slated for March 14, 2024, has been necessitated by the resignations of prominent figures, namely Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Prince Ahmad Umar Ahmadzai, and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari.
In this crucial electoral undertaking, Muhammad Farid Afridi, the Provincial Election Commissioner of Balochistan, assumes the pivotal role of the returning officer. The window for the submission of nomination papers by candidates is set from March 2 to March 3, 2024, encompassing the hours between 08:30 AM and 04:30 PM.
Following the submission phase, the list of nominated candidates is scheduled to be made public on March 3, contributing to the transparency of the entire electoral process. March 5 is earmarked for the scrutiny of nomination papers, with the deadline for appeals against acceptance or rejection falling on March 7.
To ensure a fair and just process, the tribunal has been assigned the task of disposing of appeals by March 9, with the revised list of candidates promptly released.
Candidates retain the right to withdraw their nomination papers until March 10. On March 14, 2024, the polling for the three Senate seats is slated to take place at the Balochistan Assembly Quetta from 9 am to 4 pm, affirming the commitment to a transparent, fair, and efficient electoral procedure.
