ECP proposes polls in Punjab, KP between April 9 and 17.

ISLAMABAD -- Gearing up for the largest by-polls for 93 general seats of the National Assembly and general elections for the two recently-dissolved provincial assemblies, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed conducting polls for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa legislatures between April 9 and 17 and sought an additional supplementary grant of over Rs14 billion for the purpose.

Separately, President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday met Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and asked him to announce a date for elections in the province in the wake of dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.

In separate letters sent to principal secretaries of the two provinces, copies of which are available with Dawn, the ECP has suggested elections in Punjab between April 9 and 13, and in KP between April 15 and 17.

The Punjab Assembly was dissolved on Jan 14 and the KP Assembly on Jan 18.

Seeks Rs14bn more in supplementary grant; president asks governor to announce polls in Punjab 'without delay'

The letters issued with the signatures of ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan cited Article 224 of the Constitution requiring holding of elections for an assembly within 90 days of its dissolution.

The ECP said that under Article 105(3)(a) of the Constitution, the governor is mandated to fix a date, not later than 90 days from the date of dissolution of the assembly, for holding elections.

The ECP stressed that the election date may not be taken beyond April 13 in case of Punjab and April 17 in case of KP.

Additional grant

In a related development, the ECP has approached the finance ministry, seeking release of over Rs20bn out of the approved funds, and an additional supplementary grant of over Rs14bn.

In a letter to the finance secretary, the ECP has pointed out that in the emerging situation, general elections for provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP and by-elections on 93 vacant seats of the National Assembly have to be conducted within 90 days and 60 days after the dissolution of two provincial assemblies and resignations of members of the National Assembly, respectively.

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