ECP rejects Punjab govt's request to postpone NA 133 by-election

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the request of the Punjab government to postpone the election NA 133.

The decision was made during a meeting presided over by the chief election commissioner. The election will be held on December 5.

The Punjab government had requested the ECP to postpone the by-election due to law and order situation in the country. The demand was made after the Lahore District Intelligence Committee in its October 28 meeting strongly recommended the by-election be rescheduled due to current and future security scenario, particularly after Nov 19 – the death anniversary of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi.

Earlier on October 18, the ECP had announced the schedule for by-election in NA-133, setting December 5 as the poll date.

The fell vacant on October 11when MNA Pervaiz Malik, who also served as PML-N’s Lahore chapter president, died of cardiac complications. He had been elected five times from Lahore. He had been elected the party’s MNA from Lahore’s NA-133 seat after the 2018 general elections. His wife, Shaista Pervaiz, and their son, Ali Pervaiz Malik, are also members of the National Assembly.