Candidates flock to get nominations

RAWALPINDI:

With general elections right around the corner, poll authorities have started issuing nomination papers for seven national and 14 provincial seats of the Rawalpindi district.

On the first day, a total of 69 candidates were issued nomination papers with independent and eager candidates arriving to collect the nominations on the very first day of issuance. The election frenzy was apparent among the enthusiastic candidates.

The papers were issued by 21 returning officers and 42 assistant returning officers of the Rawalpindi district who were present in their respective offices from 9am to 4pm. The issuance process started at 11am.

The cost of the nomination forms was Rs100 and candidates were required to present their ID cards for verification. The submission of nomination papers is set to begin on December 20 [Wednesday].

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Crowds were seen gathered outside the offices of the ROs as they chanted slogans in favour of their candidates’ expected victories in the upcoming elections. People were also observed roaming around the election offices.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened outside the election offices in anticipation of the campaigning period with the deployment of police personnel to ensure safety. Rallying, sloganeering, gathering of processions and brandishing firearms have been prohibited within 100 metres of election offices.

ROs also instructed prospective candidates and political parties to arrive at the offices without processions. Rawalpindi DRO Hasan Waqar Cheema strictly instructed all the ROs to uphold transparent elections.

Forms submission

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued guidelines for the submission of nomination papers for the upcoming general elections. As per the guidelines, nomination forms are to be submitted from Wednesday through Friday [December 20, 21 and 22]. The papers can be submitted anytime between 8.30am to 4.30pm for the duration of the submission period.

Candidates contesting for the NA seats will be required to pay a fee of Rs30,000 while those vying for PA seats will pay Rs20,000. Alongside the form, it is mandatory to attach certified copies of identity cards and voter certificates of both the proposer and endorser of the nomination papers.

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Additionally, candidates will also have to attach attested copies of their passports, income tax returns of the last three years, bank transaction records up to December 8, 2023, their affidavit and the details of their dependents’ assets.

Further conditions state that the candidates must not be younger than 25 years of age at the time of submitting the nomination papers. It is also mandatory that candidates nominating themselves for the PA seats belong to the respective province from where they are contesting elections.

Candidates are allowed to nominate persons who can submit nomination papers on their behalf along with a letter issued by the notary public or oath commissioner. A candidate can submit five nomination papers per deposit of nomination fee for a seat in any one constituency.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2023.