ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to conduct by-polls on 33 National Assembly (NA) seats on March 19 instead of March 16.
According to the ECP sources, a public holiday will be announced on March 16 in the respective constituencies due to NA by-polls and ECP will write a letter to the respective provinces for a public holiday.
Sources added that the election commission is bound to hold the by-elections within 60 days and postponing the polls will be a constitutional violation.
It may be noted here that PTI Central Secretary General Asad Umar had written a letter to the ECP Secretary in which he urged that a working day is not a suitable day for polling as a large section of the public would be busy carrying out their routine affairs.
The PTI leader in his letter requested ECP to revise the schedule and hold the elections on Sunday, March 19 which will encourage voter participation.
