Pakistani election panel suggests August 6 for election

Pakistani election panel has suggested August 6 for the presidential election, state media reported on Tuesday. The five-year constitutional term of Asif Ali Zardari, who was elected president in September 2008, will complete on September 8 this year. According to Pakistani Constitution, the presidential election must be held one month before the end of the term of the incumbent president. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed August 6 for the presidential election and the schedule has been sent to the Chief Election Commissioner Fakhrudin G Ibrahim for final approval, Radio Pakistan reported. "The Election Commissioner will take a final decision about the date of presidential election," the report said. The Chief Election Commissioner has approved the schedule, according to local media. The Constitution says that the process of electing a president must begin at least 2 months, and elections to be conducted a month before the end of the president's term. According to local media reports, July 24 has been proposed for submission of nomination papers while scrutiny of the papers is scheduled on July 26. The National Assembly, Senate and four provincial assemblies are the Electoral College for the election of the president in Pakistan. Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said President Zardari will not seek the second term. He said the president will complete his constitutional term and will not resign before time. President Zardari is currently in Dubai on a private visit to meet his children and is likely to visit London later to meet his daughter who studies there. The spokesman denied Pakistani media reports that the president will not return to the country before the election.