PESHAWAR: A total of 12 senators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will complete their six-year term on March 11, 2015, and polling for filling these seats will be held on March 3.

According to a press release issued here, Provincial Election Commissioner Mussarat Khan has been designated as the returning officer for the elections whereas the director (election), Talib Hussain, deputy director (elections) Khushalzada, law officer, Riaz Ahmad Khattak, public relations officer, Sohail Ahmad, and election officer Syed Zahoor will serve as polling officers. Both Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will be the most affected parties in the province as six senators of the former and five of the latter will retire in March. A single senator of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl will also complete his term.

The senators, who were elected against general seats and would retire on March 11, include Mohammad Zahid Khan, Haji Mohammad Adeel and Abdul Nabi Bangash of ANP; Gulzar Ahmad Khan, his son Waqar Ahmad Khan and Sardar Ali Khan of PPP; and Haji Ghulam Ali of JUI-F.

Similarly, the senators, who were elected against seats reserved for ulema and technocrats and would retire, include Afrasiab Khattak of ANP and Adnan Khan of PPP. Furthermore, Farah Aqil Shah of ANP and Farhat Abbas of PPP, who were elected against seats reserved for women, would also retire. Senator Amrjeet of ANP will also complete his term on March 11.

According to schedule for the elections, nomination papers can be filed on Feb 12 and 13 whereas scrutiny of papers will take place on Feb 16 and 17. Appeals against decision of the returning officer can be filed on Feb 20 and 21 with the secretary Election Commission of Pakistan or members of the commission. Decisions on the appeals would be made on Feb 23 and 24. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is Feb 25 and on same date final list of candidates will be released. Polling will be held on the premises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from 9 am till 4pm.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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