EC: Parliamentary elections will not be delayed

Elections Commission says it will respect the Supreme Court order this Monday and re-open application for candidates defeated in party primaries who wish to contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections as independent candidates, but that the elections will be held on the same date as originally scheduled.

Parliamentary Elections 2019 is scheduled to be held on April 6, and application for candidacy had closed on February 21.

However, the Supreme Court, this Monday, issued an injunction ordering the EC to re-open application for candidates defeated in party primaries who wish to contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections as independent candidates until March 4.

Spokesperson and member of EC, Ahmed Akram reports the commission will re-open application for the candidates this Monday.

“And the elections will be held on the same date, unless ordered otherwise by the courts,” said Akram.

Akram added that the commission was facing difficulties in organizing the elections, especially in finding officials.

“We are facing difficulties finding officials because of a deliberate act by a group of people,” said Akram.

EC, during the last national election, the Presidential Election 2018, faced cases of threats and acts of coercion against officials.

The commission is required by law to hold the candidate number draw one month before the date of the election. This means the application process for candidates will close on March 4, and the EC will need to hold the candidate number draw the next day, on March 5.