As the nation gears up for the upcoming general elections slated for Feb 8, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially started the acceptance of nomination papers on Dec 20 (today), opening the window for prospective candidates to officially enter the electoral fray.
The commencement of the process is scheduled to follow the swearing-in of district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) by the electoral body in accordance with the Elections Act 2017, set to take place today.
Aspirants eyeing participation in the elections have the opportunity to file their nomination papers, marking the initial phase in the run-up to the highly anticipated polls.
The ECP has laid out the guidelines for the submission of these crucial nomination papers. For those eyeing a seat in the National Assembly, the fee stands at Rs30,000, while for a provincial assembly, it is Rs20,000.
Potential candidates are allowed to submit a maximum of five nomination papers. The submission period spans from December 20 to 22, with nominations accepted at the respective returning officer's office.
Similarly, eligibility criteria have been set by the ECP, requiring candidates to be Pakistani citizens, aged 25 or above at the time of submission. Furthermore, NA candidates can hail from any part of Pakistan, whereas provincial assembly hopefuls must belong to the concerned province.
The commission has also outlined specific prerequisites for women vying for reserved seats in the NA, mandating that candidates must be registered voters within the respective province.
Following the submission phase, a preliminary list of candidates is set to be unveiled on December 23, followed by a scrutiny process from December 24 to 30.
Read also: ECP officials to start issuing nomination papers today
Any appeals against acceptance or rejection can be lodged in January, with the apellate tribunal expected to render decisions by January 10.
A revised list of candidates will then be disclosed on January 11, providing an opportunity for nomination paper withdrawals until January 12.
Finally, the allotment of election symbols, a significant aspect of the electoral process, is slated for January 13.
Meanwhile, on the inaugural day of nomination paper issuance in the capital city, nomination forms for the three NA seats became available.
A total of 82 candidates received nomination forms across three constituencies within Islamabad. The office of the district returning officer confirmed the issuance of these forms for NA constituencies NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48.
Outside the offices of the returning officers, public notices prominently displayed information pertinent to the nomination process, ensuring transparency and accessibility for aspiring candidates.
The district returning officer oversaw the distribution of nomination papers from all RO offices, noting that the issuance continued until late afternoon, concluding at half past four.
Furthermore, the returning officers assigned to oversee the nomination process for each constituency were identified: Kamran Ali Cheema for NA-46, Usman Ashraf for NA-47, and Abdullah Mehmood for NA-48.
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