The document discusses Pakistan's electoral system. It outlines that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for administering general elections according to Articles 218-219 of the Pakistani constitution. The ECP is comprised of a Chief Election Commissioner and four members from each province. There are several types of elections that take place in Pakistan, including assemblies elections to elect the National and Provincial assemblies, Senate elections, presidential elections, and local government elections held every four years.

1. Electoral System in
Pakistan
BY: Nitasha Maqsood
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2. Electoral system
 Electoral system body in Pakistan, from assembly’s
dissolution to Local government in Pakistan. Starting
from what is stated according to the constitution of
Pakistan ad the laws about elections we’ll find Article
222-226 which states about the structure according to
which elections can be held in Pakistan. The Articles
states that:
“No person can be a member of both houses i.e. National and
Senate or a House and Provincial assembly.”
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3. General Elections
 General election to the assembly should be held within the
epoch of ninety days after the dissolution that assembly i.e.
National assembly or Provincial assembly. The results to
that election should be affirmed within 14 days after the
ending of polls.
 The chapter 2: Electoral laws and conduct of Elections,
Article 222-226 in the Constitution of Pakistan states that:
“A general election to the National Assembly or a Provincial
Assembly shall be held within a period of sixty days
immediately following the day on which the day on which
the term of the Assembly is due to expire, unless the
Assembly has been sooner dissolved, and the results of the
election shall be declared not later than fourteen days
before that day.”
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4. Election Commission of Pakistan
 Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) that was established in 1956, the
constitution of Pakistan held responsible ECP for administration of
general elections in Pakistan.
 Under the chapter 1 Part 8: Chief Election commission, Article 218-219,
TheConstitution of Pakistan states that:
“For the purpose of each national general election to the State
Parliament (National Assembly) and to a Provincial legislature (Sindh,
Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan) an Election Commission
shall be constituted in accordance with the Article 239G. It shall be the duty
of the Election Commission constituted in relation to an election to organize
and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary
to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in
accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.”
 The EC is formed with comprising the Chief Election Commissioner as the
Chairman who can be a judge or retired judge of the Supreme Court and
4 members from each province who are the judges of the four High
courts over there which are chosen by the President by constitution.
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5. Level of elections in Pakistan
In Parliamentary election there are following elections. Let’s
look over them one by one.
 Assemblies Elections
 Senate Elections
 Presidential Elections
 Local government Elections
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6. Assemblies Election
 In Parliamentary system of Pakistan through secret
ballot papers the executive and legislature are elected
directly through public voting in constituencies. The
candidate who earned the highest vote in polling then
becomes a member of National or Provincial assembly.
The seats in the National assembly are allocated to each
province. The seats reserved for women and to the
minorities are allocated according to the law.
 National Assembly consisting of 342 seats is generally
elected for 5 years terms. However if it is dissolved the
elections must be held within 90 days stated in the
constitution of Pakistan.
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7. Senate Elections
 It is compromised with 100 seats to which 14 are
reserved for each Provincial assembly, 8 for FATA by the
members of National assembly from the respective
areas, 2 members containing 1 woman and technocrat
from by the Federal capital members of National
assembly and 4 of both women and technocrats from
each Provincial assembly. The tenure of the members is
of 6 years.
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8. Presidential Elections
 It is the duty of ECP to demeanor presidential elections
in-order to elect a President of the state who must not
be less than 45 years, whom can be a woman or man
but should be a Muslims. The tenure of the president if
of 5 years and the senate, national and provincial
assembly in a special session elects president under the
supervision of ECP.
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9. Local government elections
 In order of good governance the administrative and
financial authorities are distributed to be answerable to
local government. The elections are held after 4 years
and it is the duty of ECP to conduct these elections.
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10.  For more information, do visit www.pakvoter.org
Thank you
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