ECP Suspends By-Election Schedule on Zartaj Gul’s Vacated Seat; Appoints New SIC Acting Chairman

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended the by-election schedule for NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan, the seat left vacant after the disqualification of Zartaj Gul, in compliance with a Peshawar High Court order.

In a related development, the ECP appointed Sahibzada Hassan Raza as the acting chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) following the disqualification of its chief, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad. According to the SIC constitution, Hassan Raza will serve as acting chairman until intra-party elections are held.

The ECP also issued an updated list of registered political parties, bringing the total to 167. The list shows four parties currently without a chairman, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami Workers Party, Pak Sarzameen Party, and Pakistan Awami Raj.

Meanwhile, Khalid Magsi has been appointed as the head of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), while Naeem Hussain Chattha was named president of the Pakistan Muslim League Council.