 for NA-26 Rawalpindi deemed Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of the AML, to be eligible){kind=link}
Sheikh Rashid nomination: The returning officer (RO) for NA-26 Rawalpindi deemed Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of the Awami Muslim League (AML), to be eligible to run in the next National Assembly (NA) by-elections.
On March 16, 33 NA constituencies are scheduled to have by-elections, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). On February 9, the names of the candidates will be released, and until February 13, ROs will review the nomination papers.
Appeals against a RO’s determination regarding the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers must be made by February 16 in order to be considered.
The deadline for raising objections to Rashid’s nomination papers is February 13. However, no opposition has yet been voiced.
The AML leader was called to RO Nausheen Israr’s office to participate in the review of his nomination papers, and she also sent a letter to the jail officials. The AML chief is now being held at Adiala Jail on judicial remand in a case involving claims of a murder conspiracy.
Rashid’s nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, appeared before the official this morning as members of the AML and its allies Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf waited outside the RO’s office.
Rashid’s nomination papers had been accepted, according to Shafique, who told the journalists outside the RO’s office.
He claimed that at 7 p.m. on Friday, word came through phone call from the jail that Rashid would not be brought before the RO.
He said that “the jail superintendent disobeyed the magistrate’s order.”
Shafique continued by saying that the former minister was escorted to a meeting after leaving a court in Murree.
He said Rashid was being asked to change his loyalties but had said that he would stick with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
33 NA seats up for election in by-elections
After the ECP approved the resignations of PTI members of the Lower House, it was announced on January 27 that by-elections for 33 vacant seats will take place on March 16.
After PTI Chairman Imran Khan was dismissed in April of last year, the party’s MPs in the Lower House of Parliament quit in large numbers.
According to the notification released by the ECP, “In accordance with 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 calls upon the electors of the undermentioned National Assembly of Pakistan constituencies, which have become vacant due to resignations and specifies in relation thereto the following dates for by-elections.”
Election calendar
The final day for the appellate panel to rule on the appeals is February 20 according to the election calendar. The updated list of candidates will then be released on February 21.
The deadline for withdrawing from the race and releasing a new list of candidates is February 22. Election symbols will be distributed on February 23 and voting will take place on March 16.