Senate candidates retire from contest a day before polling

ISLAMABAD: Any candidate who is contesting election for the Senate may retire from the contest a day before the polling for 52 seats of Upper House of the Parliament.
The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday drew attention of the candidates contesting for the Senate elections towards the provisions of Rule 7A of the Senate Election Rules 1975.This rule states that a contesting candidate, by notice in writing signed by him and delivered to the Returning Officer by 12 at noon on the day immediately preceding the polling day, either in person or by an agent authorized by him in writing in this behalf, retire from the election.
It further provides that a notice under sub-rule (1), in no circumstances, be open to recall or cancellation and on receiving a notice of retirement, the returning officer shall, if he is satisfied that the signature on the notice is that of the candidate, cause a copy of the notice to be affixed at some conspicuous place in his office and thereupon such candidate shall cease to be a contesting candidate.
In view of this provision, the candidates for election to the Senate from all the four provinces for all four categories of seats as well as from federal capital for a general seat and a seat reserved for women and FATA for four general seats can retire from the contest within stipulated time.