Process for July 25 election gets under way in Pakistan
islamabad — The candidates hoping to run for a seat in parliament in the July 25 vote have started submitting their nominations.
Monday’s development ended rumors about a possible delay in the elections that emerged last week when a court barred the election committee from accepting nominations without a clause under which candidates must declare their assets.
However, Supreme Court’s chief justice set aside that ruling, allowing the nomination process to move forward.
The nomination papers to be filed in accordance with the Election Act 2017 will be scrutinised by Returning Officers by June 14, while the last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer rejecting or accepting the nomination papers will be June 19. The last date for deciding of appeals by the Appellate Tribunals will be June 26.
The date of publication of revised list of candidates will be June 27 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of revised list of candidates will be June 28. The date of publication of list of contesting candidates will be June 29.
The security fee for National Assembly will be Rs30,000 while the security fee for provincial assemblies will be Rs20,000. The security fee will be forfeited if any candidate gets less than one-fourth of votes.
The election will be the first time in its history that Pakistan has seen a government complete its five yearterm without a military coup or a political crisis leading to the disbanding of parliament.
Former chief justice Nasirul Mulk was chosen last month as caretaker prime minister pending the outcome of the July elections when a new Cabinet will be formed.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan spokesperson Nadeem Qasim has said that the ECP was fully committed and ready for holding the general elections on time.
He said after the decision of the Supreme Court, there was no reason or hurdle in the way of holding the elections on time, Radio Pakistan reported.
The spokesperson said all activities of the Election Commission would be as per constitution and law of the land.
Meanwhile, political analyst Prof. Dr Rasheed Ahmed Khan said on Monday that Pakistan was heading towards timely, free and transparent election. Speaking in a radio programme, he said, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government was the second civilian government, which completed its five-year term after the Pakistan People’s Party. — AP, APP