Electoral process: ECP likely to complete scrutiny of nomination papers today

Poll body currently processing forms of candidates applying for reserved seats of women

PESHAWAR: The top poll body is expected to complete the scrutiny of nomination papers for the general and reserved seats of the national and provincial assemblies today.

According to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as many as 683 nomination papers were submitted by candidates from the province to the ECP for general seats of the national assembly.

An additional 1,959 candidates had submitted their nomination papers for general seats of the K-P Assembly.



For the reserved seats of women and minorities in both national assembly and the K-P Assembly, a total 423 candidates had submitted their nomination papers.

A total 262 nomination papers were submitted for the 22 reserved seats for women in the K-P Assembly. Moreover, 73 candidates submitted their nomination papers for the three reserved seats for minorities in the K-P Assembly. A further 88 candidates submitted their nomination papers for the nine reserved seats for women in the national assembly from K-P.

Scrutiny of nomination papers for reserved seats has been conducted at the ECP Peshawar office while scrutiny for nomination papers for general seats are being conducted by the district returning officers at their respective districts.

“The scrutiny of nomination papers for the reserved seats of minorities is almost complete, while, scrutiny for women’s nomination papers is currently under process and is expected to be completed on Tuesday, “ said Sohail Ahmed, a spokesperson for ECP in K-P.



On Monday, the ECP approved the nomination papers of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) K-P Assembly members Nadia Sher, Shandana Gulzar and Noreen Farooq.

The nomination papers Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) member Safeena Gul and Naheed Younas of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) were also approved on Monday after the Eid vacation break ended.

“A total 47 nomination papers for reserved seats of women have been approved so far,” the spokesperson said, adding that the scrutiny of nomination papers for the reserved seats of minorities was conducted on June 14, and only a few are left which are expected to be processed on Tuesday.

“We will issue the [final] list of candidates on Tuesday evening,” Ahmed said, adding that appeals against the decisions of District Returning Officers (DROs) can be submitted to the appellate tribunals by June 22.

The appellate tribunals have been told to dispose of the appeals by June 27 and on June 28 revised lists of the candidates will be issued.

The candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by June 29. On June 30, the ECP will issue the final lists of the candidates who can contest the elections on July 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2018.