ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued the schedule for electing a member of the Senate from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on a general seat, setting October 30 as the polling date, following the disqualification of PTI’s Syed Shibli Faraz.
The ECP had earlier issued a notification of disqualification of the PTI legislator on August 5. Shibli Faraz, who was the leader of the opposition in the Senate, was disqualified after his conviction by an anti-terrorism court in connection with the May 9 incidents.
Although the Peshawar High Court initially granted him interim relief, the relief was vacated on October 1. Following this development, the ECP released the schedule to fill the vacant seat.
The notification stated: “Pursuant to the disqualification of Syed Shibli Faraz, Senator, in terms of Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution vide ECP’s Notification F.17(8)/2025-Coord.(M/F) dated August 5, 2025, and consequent upon vacation of interim relief by the Peshawar High Court, Peshawar, vide judgment dated October 1, 2025, in Writ Petitions No. 5170, 5171, 5062, 5337 & 5355-P/2025, the Election Commission, in exercise of powers conferred upon it under Article 224(5) read with Article 254 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Sections 107 and 127 of the Elections Act, 2017, hereby calls upon the Members of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to elect a Member of the Senate from that province against the category of General Seat, which has fallen vacant due to the disqualification of Syed Shibli Faraz.”
According to the schedule, the returning officer will issue a public notice for the filing of nomination papers on October 7. Nomination papers can be filed on October 8-9, while the list of nominated candidates will be published on October 10. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed by October 13, and appeals for or against acceptance of nominations can be filed by October 15. The tribunal will dispose of all appeals by October 17, and the revised list of candidates will be published on October 18. Candidates may withdraw their nominations by October 20.
Polling will be held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly building from 9am to 4pm on October 30. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Election Commissioner Saeed Gull has been appointed the returning officer.
Separately, the ECP has also issued the election schedule for PP-115 (Faisalabad-XVIII) and PP-116 (Faisalabad-XIX) constituencies of the Punjab Assembly, following the conviction and disqualification of PTI-backed MPAs Shahid and Muhammad Ismail. As per the schedule, nomination papers will be filed from October 13-15, while scrutiny will be completed by October 20. The revised list of candidates will be published on November 1, and election symbols will be allotted on November 4. Polling will take place on November 23.
