ECP releases written verdict on Mahmood Achakzai’s presidential election postponement request

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released its verdict in writing on the request made by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the postponement of presidential elections scheduled to be held today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

In its verdict, the election commission has said that the candidates have already submitted their nomination papers.

It has further said that Achakzai did not raise any objection at the time of scrutiny of these papers. “The electoral college is complete as well as its components, parliament and four provincial assemblies exist. And the fact that 22 MNAs and MPAs have vacated their seats does not make the college incomplete,” reads the decision.

The ECP has made it clear that the election for the head of state could not be delayed for more than 30 days.

Only a few hours after Achakzai, who is also Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman, wrote a letter to the election commission on Friday for the postponement of the presidential election, the commission refused to accept his request, saying the election would go ahead as scheduled.  

In his letter, Achakzai had argued that since the electoral college was incomplete; therefore, the election be postponed.  

Reporter: Usman Khan