By-election to the seat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Senate vacated by Ayub Afridi - an apparent move by the government to get Shaukat Tarin elected on this seat - will be held on December 20, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Announcing the schedule on Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the candidates will be able to file their nomination papers from November 30 and December 2 following which their scrutiny will be conducted which will also be completed by December 6.

Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of these papers could be filed by December 8, the commission said, adding that the tribunal would give its verdicts on these appeals on December 10.

“The final list of the candidates will be issued on December 11, while they will be able to withdraw their candidature by December 13,” the ECP said, and added that the returning officer (RO) would issue the public notice today.

The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Muhammad Ayub Afridi. 

It is pertinent to mention here that Mr Afridi resigned to vacate the seat for Shaukat Tarin who is presently serving as PM advisor on finance. 

Reporter Syed Azmat