Contesting 2013 election: Bar on foreign nationals lauded

ECP lauded over steps taken to ban individuals holding foreign nationality from contesting the general elections.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) in a press release on Friday lauded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over steps taken to ban individuals holding foreign nationality from contesting the general elections. It also demanded that, in addition, the ECP should initiate the formal process for candidates to declare if they hold permanent residence status in any country other than Pakistan. Such public declaration will be greatly helpful to the voters in deciding about the suitability of a candidate, the press release added. Pildat pointed out that the representation of people act requires the declaration of useful information about a candidate such as educational qualifications, list of criminal cases, income tax amount, land revenue paid and statement of assets and liabilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.