ECP Withdraws Notification of By-Election on Murad Saeed’s Senate Seat

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has withdrawn the notification for a by-election on the Senate seat previously declared vacant following the disqualification of Murad Saeed.

The ECP issued a written order stating that Murad Saeed had neither taken the oath as a Senate member nor constitutionally assumed office as a Member of Parliament. Therefore, his disqualification did not create a legal vacancy in the Senate.

In its written decision, the Election Commission clarified that a by-election can only be held when a seat of Parliament or a provincial assembly becomes legally vacant due to death, resignation, or disqualification under Articles 63 and 64 of the Constitution. The relevant constitutional provisions, including Articles 219(b) and 224(5), were also considered in reaching the decision.

According to the ECP, Murad Saeed had not formally acquired the status of a Member of Parliament, meaning no legal vacancy had arisen and there was no basis for holding a by-election on the seat.

The Election Commission accepted an application filed by PML-N Member of the Provincial Assembly Jalal Khan and withdrew the previously issued election schedule.

Barrister Muhammad Yasin Raza presented arguments before the ECP on behalf of the petitioner. The commission maintained that despite Murad Saeed’s conviction or disqualification, his Senate seat could not legally be considered vacant because he had not taken the oath of membership.

The written order was signed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other members of the Election Commission.