Electoral system in Pakistan

Election Commission of Pakistan

In this blog we’ll try to discuss the complete Electoral system body in Pakistan, from assembly’s dissolution to Local government in Pakistan. Starting from what is stated according to the constitution of Pakistan ad the laws about elections we’ll find Article 222-226 which states about the structure according to which elections can be held in Pakistan. The Articles states that:

No person can be a member of both houses i.e. National and Senate or a House and Provincial assembly.

General election to the assembly should be held within the epoch of ninety days after the dissolution that assembly i.e. National assembly or Provincial assembly. The results to that election should be affirmed within 14 days after the ending of polls.

 The chapter 2: Electoral laws and conduct of Elections, Article 222-226 in the Constitution of Pakistan states that:

“A general election to the National Assembly or a Provincial Assembly shall be held within a period of sixty days immediately following the day on which the day on which the term of the Assembly is due to expire, unless the Assembly has been sooner dissolved, and the results of the election shall be declared not later than fourteen days before that day.”

Election Commission of Pakistan:

Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) that was established in 1956, the constitution of Pakistan held responsible ECP for administration of general elections in Pakistan.

Under the chapter 1 Part 8: Chief Election commission, Article 218-219, The Constitution of Pakistan states that

“For the purpose of each national general election to the State Parliament (National Assembly) and to a Provincial legislature (Sindh, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan) an Election Commission shall be constituted in accordance with the Article 239G. It shall be the duty of the Election Commission constituted in relation to an election to organize and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.”

The EC is formed with comprising the Chief Election Commissioner as the Chairman who can be a judge or retired judge of the Supreme Court and 4 members from each province who are the judges of the four High courts over there which are chosen by the President by constitution.

Level of elections in Pakistan:

In Parliamentary election there are Assemblies, Senate, Presidential and Local Government elections. Let’s look over them one by one.

Assemblies Elections:

In Parliamentary system of Pakistan through secret ballot papers the executive and legislature are elected directly through public voting in constituencies. The candidate who earned the highest vote in polling then becomes a member of National or Provincial assembly. The seats in the National assembly are allocated to each province. The seats reserved for women and to the minorities are allocated according to the law.

National Assembly consisting of 342 seats is generally elected for 5 years terms. However if it is dissolved the elections must be held within 90 days stated in the constitution of Pakistan.

Senate elections:

It is compromised with 100 seats to which 14 are reserved for each Provincial assembly, 8 for FATA by the members of National assembly from the respective areas, 2 members containing 1 woman and technocrat from by the Federal capital members of National assembly and 4 of both women and technocrats from each Provincial assembly. The tenure of the members is of 6 years.

Presidential Elections:

It is the duty of ECP to demeanor presidential elections in-order to elect a President of the state who must not be less than 45 years, whom can be a woman or man but should be a Muslims. The tenure of the president if of 5 years and the senate, national and provincial assembly in a special session elects president under the supervision of ECP.

Local government elections:

In order of good governance the administrative and financial authorities are distributed to be answerable to local government. The elections are held after 4 years and it is the duty of ECP to conduct these elections.

For more information visit www.pakvoter.org