Press statement by Mr. Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan in connection with election to the office of the President– 2008
PRESS STATEMENT
BY
MR. JUSTICE ® QAZI MUHAMMAD FAROOQ
CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF PAKISTAN
IN CONNECTION WITH
ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT– 2008
Islamabad, the 22nd August, 2008.- It is constitutional responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner to hold and conduct Election to the office of the President of Pakistan as Returning Officer for that Election.
2. Under the provisions of Second Schedule to the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner is required to announce the Schedule for Presidential Election and conduct that Election so as to complete the whole process in relation thereto within the stipulated period.
3. For the purpose of holding Presidential Election, the Chief Election Commissioner, in his capacity as Returning Officer, is also required to appoint Presiding Officers to preside at the Meeting of the Members of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) as well as the Meetings of the Members of the Provincial Assemblies. Besides, the Chief Election Commissioner is required to fix the date, time and place for depositing Nomination Papers; holding Scrutiny; publishing the List of Validly Nominated Candidates after Withdrawals and holding the Poll.
4. The Nomination Forms for contesting Election to the office of the President are available in the ECP Secretariat, Islamabad as well as in the offices of the Registrar of the High Court of the Province concerned and the Provincial Election Commissioners, as under:
(ECP Secretariat)
(1) Election Commission of Pakistan,
Election House, Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad.
(Presiding Officers)
(2) The Registrar, Lahore High Court, Lahore.
(3) The Registrar, High Court of Sindh, Karachi.
(4) The Registrar, Peshawar High Court, Peshawar.
(5) The Registrar, High Court of Balochistan, Quetta.
(Provincial Election Commissioners)
(6) The Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab, 10-Court Street, Lahore.
(7) The Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh, Pak. Sectt. Block No.44-A, Sharah-e-Iraq, Saddar, Karachi.
(8) The Provincial Election Commissioner, NWFP, Bungalow No. 11-A, Michini Road, Peshawar Cantt.
(9) The Provincial Election Commissioner, Balochistan, Stewart Road, Quetta.
5. The office of the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has fallen vacant due to resignation tendered by former President Mr. Pervez Musharraf on the 18th August, 2008. Thus, under the Constitution, Election to the office of the President is required to be held not later than thirty days from the occurrence of the vacancy. Therefore, I, Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan do hereby notify today the 22nd August, 2008, the following Schedule for Election to the office of President of Pakistan:
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
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Filing of nomination papers with the Returning Officer/Presiding Officer at Islamabad and with each of the Presiding Officers at Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
Scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer at Islamabad.
Withdrawal of candidature before the Returning Officer at Islamabad.
Publication of the list of validly nominated candidates.
Polling day and Polling time.
Place of the Poll.
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26-8-2008
(upto 12.00 noon)
28-8-2008
(at 10.00 AM)
30-8-2008
(upto 12.00 noon)
30-8-2008
(at 1.00 PM)
06-9-2008
(from 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM)
(1) The Parliament
House Islamabad.
(2) The Provincial
Assembly Building,
Lahore.
(3) The Provincial
Assembly Building,
Karachi.
(4) The Provincial
Assembly Building,
Peshawar.
(5) The Provincial
Assembly Building,
Quetta.
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6. In my capacity as Returning Officer for Election to the office of President, I also notify appointment of the following Presiding Officers for the conduct of said Election:
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S #
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Name of the Assembly
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Names of the Presiding Officers
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(1)
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Provincial Assembly of the Punjab,
Lahore.
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Mr. Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain,
Chief Justice,
Lahore High Court, Lahore.
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(2)
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Provincial Assembly of Sindh,
Karachi.
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Mr. Justice Azizullah Memon,
Acting Chief Justice,
High Court of Sindh, Karachi.
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(3)
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Provincial Assembly of NWFP,
Peshawar.
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Mr. Justice Jehan Zaib Rahim,
Acting Chief Justice,
Peshawar High Court, Peshawar.
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(4)
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Provincial Assembly of Balochistan,
Quetta.
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Mr. Justice Amanullah Khan,
Chief Justice,
High Court of Balochistan, Quetta.
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Besides, being Returning Officer for the said Election, I shall preside over the meeting of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in the Parliament House, Islamabad in a joint sitting on the time and date fixed for the Poll.
7. May Allah Almighty guide us towards the right path and help us in holding free and fair Election to the office of President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A’ameen.
8. Notifications regarding Election Schedule and appointment of Presiding Officers for Election to office of the President of Pakistan have been issued today and copies thereof are annexed.