Contestants asked to provide election expenditures

ECP set a limit of Rs200,000 for expenditure for each candidate in their electioneering campaign

RAWALPINDI:

The returning officers (ROs) have asked for the details of the expenses incurred by the winning and losing candidates in the cantonment board elections in violation of the maximum limit.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had set a limit of Rs200,000 for expenditure for each candidate in their electioneering campaign.

However, most of the contestants violated the restriction and spent millions of rupees in order to gain an edge over their rivals.

It has been learnt that some of the candidates incurred expenses of up to Rs20 million. Therefore, the ROs have summoned details of expenditures from the winning candidates.

During the election campaign which continued for almost a month, the ROs said nothing about the violation of rules. However, the ROs have now asked for details from all candidates.

Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) official that the victorious candidates will have to submit the related documents in a week while the losing candidates will have 45 days.

Read More: 6,000 cops to be deployed on election duty

Meanwhile, five political activists were beaten with rods and hockey sticks and injured for allegedly campaigning against a PTI candidate in the cantonment board elections.

The attackers also fired at them and one man was injured. The Taxila police have registered an FIR of the incident.

The complainant informed the police that he was sitting outside his house with his sons when about 19 people one of whom he identified as Imran reached there and assaulted them.

The complainant said that Imran fired a bullet that struck his son, Shan. The neighbours started gathering upon hearing noise owing to which the suspects fled.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2021..