The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Quddus Bizenjo’s request for putting off by-election for a seat that fell vacant after the death of a senator due to the coronavirus.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raza and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, the speaker stressed that since the Covid-19 has been on the prowl, he finds it difficult to hold by-polls in current circumstances.

On December 21, PML-N Senator Kalsoom Parveen died after she contracted coronavirus and the election commission issued a schedule for organising elections on the vacant seat on January 14.

The tenure of Kalsoom Parveen Late is ending on March 11 and the next polls of the Upper House are already scheduled in February 2021, the letter said and laid stress holding the polls once. 

“It is s impossible to make arrangements for polls in 10 days,” Balochistan assembly speaker said in the letter. The Senate chief referred the matter to the ECP that turned down the plea for postponing the polls.

Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Quddus Bizenjo wrote a letter for putting off by-election on a Senate seat that fell vacant after a lawmaker’s death from coronavirus.