LG reserved seats: ECP issues guidelines for political parties

LAHORE: The election commission has issued nine-point guidelines to facilitate political parties and candidates to avoid any complications at the time of allotment of symbols by the returning officer.

A large number of candidates are contesting local government elections on reserved seats in Punjab and the political parties might face difficulties in issuing party tickets to their candidates, a statement issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said.

The contesting candidates belonging to the political parties are required to be allotted symbols allotted to the parties by the ECP, on submission of party ticket on party letter, duly signed and stamped from the head of the political party or a person duly authorised by him.

According to the ECP guidelines, the party head of each political party shall authorise a party office-bearer in each division to issue party tickets to the candidates. The head shall provide a list of such authorised office-bearers containing their name, designation, CNIC and other particulars to the provincial election commissioner by October 20.

The commissioner shall forward such lists to the returning officers for information and necessary action in accordance therewith.

Party ticket shall be issued by October 24 to the candidates for the purpose of allotment of symbol to such candidates by the returning officer. Only one person shall be authorised for a division of the province to issue party tickets to the candidates. Party ticket once issued cannot be recalled or cancelled and care must be taken that against one seat only one party ticket is issued.

Party ticket may contain the name, parentage and CNIC number of the candidate. The party head or the authorised person must put his signature and stamp on each ticket. Each candidate shall submit their ticket to the returning officer concerned by and before the date of withdrawal fixed by the ECP.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2016.