Acting Chief Election Commissioner Postpones Pb-26 Jafferabad-II (Old Naseerabad-II) Bye-Election for Six Weeks

Islamabad: Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Honourable Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, pursuant to the observations made in the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Order dated 25th April 2011 passed in Constitution Petition No. 32/2011(Mubashar Lucman vs. Federation of Pakistan etc) as well as Orders dated 4th May 2011 and 19th May 2011 passed in Constitution Petition No. 31/2011 (Imran Khan vs. Election Commission of Pakistan), has been pleased to postpone the poll for Bye-election in Constituency No. PB-26 Jafferabad-II (Old Naseerabad-II) which was scheduled to be held on the 24th May 2011 and re-fixed the 9th July 2011 as poll day for the constituency.

The Honourable Acting CEC, Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal further observed that recently, in a few cases, the Honourable Supreme Court has dilated upon the issue of constitution of the Election Commission in view of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and the Honourable Court has, time and again, stressed upon the completion of the composition of the Election Commission for the reasons as enumerated in Article 218(a)(b) and Article 219 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His lordship observed that no concrete progress could be made so far regarding the appointment of Members of the Election Commission which is to be done by the Federal Government.

It has been further observed that in view of the obligatory Constitutional provisions, all the elections held to fill casual vacancies in Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies have become questionable after 18th Constitutional Amendment. There should be no action in deviation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and directives/observations given/made by the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan which is binding in view of the provisions as envisaged in Article 189 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat
Election House, Constitution Avenue G-5/2, Islamabad
Tel: +9251 920 1975, +9251 920 6062
Fax: +9251 920 5402, +9251 920 5300