June 25, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1427

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QUETTA, June 24: The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced schedule for by-election on vacant provincial assembly seats PB-11 (Qila Abdullah-1) and PB-12 (Qila Abdullah-2).

According to the schedule, nomination papers will be received from July 3 to 5 and scrutinised on July 6-7.

Appeals against acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers could be filed till July 12 which would be heard and decided on July 17.

Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers till July 18 while election symbols would also be allotted the same day. Polling in both constituencies will be held on August 5. According to the election commission, the candidates who had already filed their nomination papers in respect of PB-12 need not to file fresh nomination papers.

The commission has appointed ADO-Chaman as the Returning Officer for PB-11 and Judicial Magistrate Chaman as the Returning Officer for PB-12.

The seats had fallen vacant after the Supreme Court of Pakistan had disqualified Nasim Turyalai of the Pashtoonkhawa Milli Party and Provincial Health Minister Hafiz Hamdullah of the Muttahida Majlis Amal.

Losers had challenged their candidature on the plea they had been government employees and could not contest election without completing two years period after resigning from government job.

Earlier by-election was held on PB-12 but the commission had declared its result null and void after receiving proof of rigging.