In a recent development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has granted a two-day extension for the submission of nomination papers, now allowing candidates to submit their documents until Sunday. The revised schedule outlines specific timings for candidates interested in contesting elections, with submission hours ranging from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm until the deadline.
The upcoming electoral process is set to unfold with the initial list of candidates scheduled for release on December 24. Subsequently, the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from December 25 to December 30. Candidates have until January 03 to file appeals against decisions made by Returning Officers regarding the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers. An appellate tribunal will then decide on these appeals by January 10, and the revised list of candidates will be published on January 11.
Following this, candidates have until January 12 to withdraw their candidacy, and electoral symbols will be assigned on January 13. The much-anticipated general elections are slated to take place on February 8.
Acquiring nomination papers comes with a cost of Rs. 100, with each candidate allowed to submit a maximum of five papers, each endorsed by different individuals. National Assembly seat contenders must pay a non-refundable fee of Rs. 30,000, while those vying for Provincial Assembly seats must submit Rs. 20,000.
Candidates are required to attach their income tax return documents from the past three years along with their nomination papers. Essential eligibility criteria include being a Pakistani citizen and a minimum age of 25 years.
For National Assembly seat contestants, ECP mandates that individuals must be registered voters anywhere in Pakistan. Provincial assembly candidates, on the other hand, must be registered voters in their respective provinces. Nomination papers must include attested copies of identity cards and vote certificates of both the candidate recommender and endorser, along with a copy of the candidate’s passport.
Nomination fees are to be directly deposited to the Returning Officer (RO) or through a Bank Draft. Failure to comply with Articles 62 and 63 will lead to disqualification, and proposers for general seats must be voters from the relevant constituency.
Specific to women and non-Muslim seats in the National and Provincial Assembly, both proposers and seconders must be voters of the respective province. However, nominators and supporters for non-Muslim seats can be voters from any part of Pakistan. Stay informed as Pakistan gears up for this crucial electoral process with these essential updates.
Afsheen Gohar believes in the power of clear, straightforward writing. Her blog posts tackle everyday topics with relatable insights and easy-to-follow advice. With a conversational style, she makes complex subjects feel understandable. She’s dedicated to sharing knowledge and empowering readers to take action. Find her latest posts on trending in social.
