ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the by-election schedule for NA-171 Rahim Yar Khan after the vacancy left by the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member National Assembly Mumtaz Mustafa.
According to media reports, the by-election is scheduled to be held on September 12, 2024. Candidates who wish to contest for this seat can submit their nomination papers from August 15 to August 17. The preliminary list of candidates will be released in August. 17.
Nomination papers will be scrutinized on August 21, with any challenges to papers accepted by August 23. The Appellate Tribunal will hear these appeals by August 27, and the revised list of candidates will be released by August 28. Opportunity to withdraw nomination papers till August 29.
Election symbols will be allotted to the candidates on August 30 as the election process progresses. This by-election is crucial to fill the seat vacated by the late Mumtaz Mustafa, whose passing necessitated a new representative for the constituency.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani presided over the case concerning Islamabad’s local body elections. During the hearing, ECP officials assured the court of their readiness to conduct elections on the specified date.
Elections in Islamabad were long overdue, the city’s previous municipal administration, finished its five-year term in February 2021. The government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) both failed to hold the elections within the required four months. The ECP has finally released the election timetable for Islamabad’s 101 Union Councils (UCs) after an egregious delay
This development signals progress towards ensuring democratic representation through scheduled local body elections in the capital city.
