Rawalpindi: The nomination papers of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed for the NA-26 Rawalpindi by-election were approved by the Returning Officer (RO) on Saturday.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) schedule, by-elections to 33 National Assembly seats will be held on March 16, the names of the final contesting candidates will be released on February 9, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on February 13. will continue until
February 16 is the last date for filing appeals against the decision of ROs.
Objections to Sheikh Rasheed’s nomination papers can be submitted till February 13, but no objection has been filed so far.
RO Nausheen Israr summoned the AML chief – who is in Adiala jail on judicial remand for conspiracy to murder – to his office to attend the scrutiny of his nomination papers and wrote a letter to the jail authorities. was written
Meanwhile, activists of the AML and its ally Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) gathered outside the RO’s office this morning, while Rashid’s nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq appeared before the official.
Talking to the media outside the RO office, Shafiq said that the election officer has approved Rashid’s nomination papers.
He said that he was informed through a phone call from the jail at 7 pm on Friday that Rashid would not be produced before the RO.
“The jail superintendent refused to comply with the magistrate’s directive,” he said.
Shafiq added that the former minister was taken to meet someone on his way back from the court in Murree.
He said that Rashid was being asked to change his loyalties but said that he would stay with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
By-elections on 33 vacant seats of the National Assembly
On January 27, the ECP had announced that the by-elections on 33 vacant seats would be held on March 16 after accepting the resignations of PTI members of the lower house.
After the dismissal of PTI chairman Imran Khan in April last year, the party’s legislators resigned en masse.
“In pursuance of Section 57 of the Elections Act, 2017 (Act No. XXXIII of 2017), read with Section 102 and Clause (4) of Article 224 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Election Commission hereby requires that the National Voters of the under-mentioned assembly constituencies, which have become vacant due to resignations and clarification regarding the following dates for the by-elections,” the notification issued by the ECP read.
