ECP revises election schedule a third time

Nomination papers can now be filed by June 11


Irfan Ghauri June 08, 2018
ECP PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The top election supervisory body on Friday notified a revised schedule for the July 25 general elections, synchronising it with the extended deadline for the submission of nomination forms.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had a day earlier extended the last date for filing of nomination papers which is now June 11. This was the third deferral.

General elections on July 25 – it’s official

It was from June 2 to June 6 when the ECP announced the election schedule on May 31. Later, it was extended to June 8 due to pending litigation over omitting declarations from new nomination forms by parliament when it passed the Elections Act 2017.

In its interim order, the Supreme Court restored the affidavits that were part of the 2013 nomination forms and omitted in the new ones.

After the Supreme Court’s direction, the election authorities on Wednesday asked returning officers to receive affidavits approved by the court from all candidates, including the ones who have already filed their nominations by June 11.

Once the process of filing of nominations concludes on June 11, returning officers will examine credentials of the candidates till June 19.

In the initial schedule, the ECP had kept June 14 the last date for scrutiny of the nominations.

Candidates would be allowed to file appeals against the decisions of the returning officers from June 10 to June 22. It was June 19 earlier.

ECP revises dates for filing nomination papers

Appellate tribunals would now decide the appeals till June 27. Revised list of candidates would be published on June 28, while those who would want to withdraw candidature could do by June 29.

Candidates would be allotted election symbol on June 30. Earlier this whole process was to be concluded on June 29.

The polling date would remain the same – July 25 – when 105 million voters in the country will choose their representatives for the next five years in the National Assembly and four provincial legislatures.

Separately, the ECP also issued a notification stopping local governments in the provinces, the federal capital, and cantonment boards from releasing any funds for development schemes or from announcing any new schemes in their respective areas until results for the July 25 elections are compiled.

 

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