The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday reversed a notification issued to postpone polls in NA-83 and NA-85 of Sargodha.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja issued the directions to suspend the notifications on Monday.
Raja heard applications filed by candidates from NA-83 and NA-85 — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti and Mohsin Shahnawaz Bukhari — against postponing elections in these constituencies. The relevant officials suspended the elections in the two constituencies because a candidate for the constituency had passed away after they had been notified as candidates.
The Sargodha district returning officer (DRO) and the returning officer also appeared before the ECP.
The PML-N candidates informed the ECP that they received a notification from the relevant returning officer that a candidate in their constituency had passed away. The death certificate for the candidate in question was from January 15. However, upon conducting an investigation, it was learnt that the candidate, Sadiq Ali, had passed away on January 2 and had been buried on January 3.
The candidates urged the ECP not to postpone the elections.
The DRO said that upon conducting an inquiry, they confirmed that the candidate had passed on January 2.
The chief election commissioner asked why the inquiry was not held before issuing a notification to suspend the elections.
The returning officer said that it had been proved that the death certificate they were provided with was fake.
The Union Council Secretary informed the ECP that they had issued the death certificate after checking the registry and on the application of the deceased's son.
However, the registrar said that his signatures on the certificate had been forged.
This meant that the candidates had passed before the list of candidates for constituencies was finalised and symbols allotted.
At this, the CEC reprimanded the union council secretaries, informing them they would face punitive action. He directed the DRO to suspend the relevant officials.
During the hearing, the CEC asserted that elections in these constituencies will be held on February 8.