New president to be elected on Sept 4: ECP

ISLAMABAD: As the incumbent President Mamnoon Hussain’s term is set to expire in less then a month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued the schedule for the presidential election. 

The electoral body has set September 4 for the election of the head of state.

Mr Hussain’s five-year term will expire on September 9. As per the Constitution, the presidential election must be held at least a month prior to the expiry of the president’s tenure.

But, the poll couldn’t be held a month before because the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies, which elect president, were not functional at that time.

According to the schedule issued by the ECP, nomination papers for the election can be filed to the presiding officers in the commission’s offices in Islamabad and the four provinces on 27th of this month.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on Aug 29, while candidature can be withdrawn by 30th of the month. The list of validated candidates will be published the same day at 1:00 pm.

Voting for the election will be held in the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on September 4.

The lawmakers will exercise their right to vote through a secret ballot.