Pakistan's poll body gears up to hold Presidential election by March 9

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to hold an election for the office of the countrys president by March 9, two days before the retirement of half of the senators after completing their six-year term, Dawn reported quoting sources..

Article 41(4) of the Constitution says that election to the office of president shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of the president in office: Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved, it shall be held within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly..

Since the general elections were held on February 8, the presidential election is required to be conducted by March 9, just two days before the retirement of half of the 100-member Senate..

The sources said the Senate elections were also due in the first week of March, but because of the delay in the general elections of the National and provincial assemblies, the Senate elections will now be held either in the last week of March or the first week of April which means the upper house will remain dysfunctional and incomplete for some period..

According to a PPP leader, it is because of the upcoming presidential election and to ensure Zardaris win that the party has stopped its two senators, Nisar Khuhro and Jam Mahtab Dahar, from taking the oath as MPAs in the Sindh Assembly..

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