Pak presidential polls likely in September

Islamabad: The presidential elections in Pakistan are likely to take place in the first week of September. Incumbent Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain’s five-year term is due to end on September 8.

Geo News quoted sources saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started preparations for the same.

As per the Constitution of Pakistan, the indirect election for the post of president should be held no earlier than 60 days and no later than 30 days before the incumbent president’s term expires.

Also, the presidential elections are to be held within 30 days after the general elections to the National Assembly (NA) has been conducted, as per the report.

The presidential polls were supposed to take place on August 8, but the Electoral College could not be finalised. Geo News quoted ECP sources saying that until August 10, the new assemblies would not be functional.

Sources said that ECP will announce the final schedule for the presidential elections after completing the electoral rolls.

The members who have been elected to the national and provincial assemblies will exercise their franchise in the elections.

Pakistan recently held the general elections to the NA on July 25, during which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which won 64 seats came second, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bagged 43 seats and finished third.

(ANI)