Senate elections on March 2

Senate elections on March 2

Amidst the rising tensions between different organs of state, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday announced to hold the much-awaited Senate polls on March 2, 2012.

A notification issued by the commission declared that 54 Senators, including four reserved seats for minorities, under the 18^th amendment, will be elected by March. Although the schedule of Senate polls has been announced, it is unclear whether it can actually happen or not.

It said the returning officers will issue a public notice for nomination papers on February 11 and the potential candidates could submit their nomination papers by Feb 13 and 14.

Scrutiny of the papers would be held on Feb 16 and 17while the candidates can file appeal against rejection of nominations with the Secretary EC on February 20 and 21.

The commission will dispose of appeals by the by February 22 and 23 while last date for withdrawal of candidature is 24^th of February. The EC would issue the final list of candidates on the same date.

Polling will be held on March 2 in the provincial assemblies of Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta for the election of senators from provinces while place of poll for senators of FATA and the federal capital is the Parliament House.

According to the notification, members of the provincial assembly will elect seven senators for general seats, two for the seats reserved for women and two members for the seats reserved for technocrats including Ulema.

Members of the National Assembly will elect on senator against general seat and the other member for the seat reserved for technocrats from the Federal Capital Islamabad.

The notification further says MNAs from the FATA will elect Senate’s four members against general seats.

Each provincial assembly will one senator for the seats reserved for non-Muslims, first time in the country’s history.

The polls will be held for the seats of vacant after expiration of term of offices of 50 Senators on March 12.

However, political analysts think that the government may not last till the scheduled Senate polls due to prevailing unrest in the country.

On the other hand, the leadership of the ruling PPP is ambivalent about the awarded of party tickets as number of applicants is much more than the PPP is certain to win – 20 seats.

The strength of the PPP in the Senate will become 42 from existing 27 as the party is set to win 20 of the 54 seats for which elections are going to be held.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 13 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.