Pak EC announces by-poll schedule of seat held by Gilani

Pakistani authorities on Friday announced the schedule for the bye-election to the parliamentary seat that was held by former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani before his disqualification by the supreme court.

The by-poll to the constituency in Multan in Punjab province will be held on July 19, the Election Commission said in a statement.

Gilani, who has been disqualified for five years, will not be eligible to contest the bye-election and the PPP is expected to field a loyalist from the constituency.

Nominations for the by-poll can be submitted on June 25 and 26 and the papers will be scrutinised on June 28 and 29.

Appeals against the rejection of nomination papers can be filed on July 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 5. The final list of candidates is expected to be made public on July 6.

The PPP, which has announced plans to carve out a new province in the southern part of Punjab, is expected to face no problems in retaining Gilani's constituency.