The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken significant steps towards the upcoming Senate elections, scheduled to occur in the first week of April. In a recent notification released by the ECP, returning officers (ROs) have been appointed for Islamabad and the four provinces.
Key appointments include Saeed Gul as the Returning Officer (RO) for the federal capital, while provincial election commissioners Aijaz Anwar Chohan, Sharifullah, Shamshad Khan, and Muhammad Farid Afridi will serve as returning officers in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, respectively.
Senate Election Details
The Senate election will witness members of the National Assembly electing one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema from the federal capital. Additionally, members of provincial assemblies across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan will elect representatives against various seats, including general, women, and technocrats, as well as seats reserved for non-Muslims.
Read More: Collective efforts required to ensure gender parity: Tirmizi
By-Elections on the Horizon
In further electoral developments, by-elections for six vacant Senate seats are scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Polling will take place in the upper house of parliament, as well as at Sindh and Balochistan assemblies located in Karachi and Quetta.
These vacancies arose as senators relinquished their seats upon winning elections to the National Assembly or provincial assemblies. Notable figures transitioning to lower houses include Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Nisar Ahmed Khoro, Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai, and Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti.
The upcoming Senate elections and subsequent by-polls mark pivotal moments in Pakistan’s democratic process, as the nation prepares to elect representatives to key legislative bodies. Stay tuned for more updates as the electoral process unfolds.
