Pakistan presidential polls likely in September

The Election Commission of Pakistan said that the next presidential elections could be held in the last week of August or the first week of September as President Mamnoon Hussain's five-year term is due to end on September 9.

As per the Constitution, the presidential elections are supposed to be held a month before the expiry of the incumbent's term, Dawn reports. A final date for the elections will be announced once the national and provincial legislatures have taken their oaths.

The presidential polls were supposed to take place on August 8, but the Electoral College could not be finalised. Geo News quoted ECP sources saying that until August 10, the new assemblies would not be functional.

Constitutional requirements necessitate the ECP to submit a summary of the elections to the chief election commissioner. 

Additionally, if the General and presidential elections fall in close proximity to each other, the Constitution requires that the presidential election be held a month after the General Election ─ which in this case would mean August 25, reports said.