ECP starts accepting nomination papers

• ECP sets 8th as last date for submission of papers
• Scruti­ny of nomina­tion papers to be comple­ted by 14th

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday started accepting nomination papers for the general elections 2018 after the Supreme Court (SC) suspended Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order pertaining to the revision in the parliament-made nomination papers.

LHC, on Friday, had ruled that the nomination form does not include mandatory information and declarations as required from the aspiring lawmakers by the Constitution and law, including details such as their educational background, criminal record or if they are dual nationals.

The court had ordered the ECP to ensure that all mandatory information and declarations are part of the revised Form A, the nomination form for election to an assembly or the Senate, and Form B, the statement of assets and liabilities.

However, on Sunday, the Supreme Court suspended LHC’s order.

Following the decision, the ECP had announced revised dates for the submission of nomination papers by candidates aspiring to contest the upcoming general elections.

NOMINATION PAPERS BEING ISSUED:

Exercising its powers under section 58 of the Elections Act 2017, the ECP revised dates for filing of nomination papers with the Returning Officers by the candidates from June 4 to June 8. The schedule also applies for candidates on reserved seats; women and non-Muslims, in all National and provincial assemblies.

Nomination papers, filed in accordance with Election Act 2017, will be scrutinised by June 14, while appeals against decisions made by returning officers can be filled till June 19.

Returning Officers (ROs) have started issuing nomination papers to candidates. The nomination papers can be obtained from 8 am to 4 pm which are available in Urdu and English languages. The fee of the forms has been fixed Rs 100.

The security fee for national and provincial assembly nomination papers differ. National assembly nomination papers have a security fee of Rs30,000 whereas the provincial assembly papers carry a security fee of Rs20,000.

The fee will stand forfeited if a candidate bags less than one-fourth of the total votes in the respective constituency. “Security fee will be held in case of less than one-fourth of votes,” said the ECP.

Previously, the ECP had outlined submission dates from June 2 to June 6 while the publication of candidate names was to be made on June 7.