The country formally embarked on an extensive election journey on Wednesday, witnessing over 1,000 aspiring candidates obtaining nomination papers from returning officers (ROs) nationwide. Concurrently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the Election Code of Conduct, setting the stage for a political fervor that will culminate on February 8 next year when millions will cast their ballots.
These nomination papers, intended for both the National and provincial assemblies, encompassing general seats as well as those reserved for minorities and women, were sought by candidates from various political parties and independent contenders.
However, the initial day saw only a handful of papers submitted, notably in Karachi and Jhelum district. The nomination paper filing process is open until Friday, though the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is advocating for a three-day extension.
Several political heavyweights were among those who obtained the papers on Wednesday. They included former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, former Islamabad mayor Ansar Aziz, MUttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Deputy Convener Mustafa Kamal and others.
The district returning officer (DRO) of Islamabad issued 82 nomination papers to intending candidates for the three National Assembly seats, NA-46, NA-47 and NA-48. They included former mayor of the capital city, Sheikh Ansar Aziz for NA-47 and NA-48.
Reports from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) indicated that 214 candidates obtained the papers in Abbottabad district, while 34 people got the papers in Mansehra district, including PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif for NA-14. For five provincial assembly seats in the district, 80 papers were issued.
More than 200 nomination papers for both national and provincial assembly seats were obtained by different political parties, including the PML-N, JUI-F, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and many others in Punjab.
Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif got the papers for one National Assembly’s constituency NA-123 and two Provincial Assembly seats PP-158 and PP-164. The nomination papers were also obtained for IPP’s Aleem Khan for NA-119 and Nazir Chohan from PP-162.
From the PTI, the nomination papers were obtained for Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Shafqat Mehmood and others. Nomination papers were also obtained on behalf of PTI’s active worker Sanam Javed, for various constituencies of Lahore.
In the seven districts of Karachi, political parties and independent candidates obtained more than 1,000 nomination papers for 22 National and 47 Sindh Assembly seats as well as the reserved seats, while 16 candidates, including Mustafa Kamal of the MQM-P submitted their nomination papers.
The filing of the nomination papers would continue till December 22. The last date for filing appeals against the decisions of the returning officers regarding rejecting or accepting the paper would continue until January 3, 2024, which would be decided by January 10.
The revised list of candidates will be released on January 11, after which the candidates would have one day to withdraw their candidature. On January 13, the ECP would allot the election symbols to the remaining candidates and the final list of the contestants would be issued.
The Sindh election commissioner has also asked the parties to submit the priority list for the candidates for the reserved seats by Friday (tomorrow). The Sindh election commissioner also said that the candidates having features described in Article 62 of the Constitution will contest the general elections.Code of conductThe ECP issued the Election Code of Conduct, containing 80 points.
According to the code, the president, caretaker government, chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate and all public office-holders would be barred from participating in the election campaigns for any candidate.
The code also prohibits the announcement of development schemes, and emphasises that election campaign will not run on government expense. It urges the political parties, candidates and agents to uphold morality, public order and the rights and freedom of the people.
According to the code, there will be no talk against the Pakistan ideology; national sovereignty, integrity and security; independence and autonomy of the judiciary; reputation of the Pakistani forces. The parties are required to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies on the polling day.
The code stipulates that giving gifts, bribes or luring a person to withdraw from the election should be avoided. It binds the political parties to give 5% tickets for the general seats to women, stressing that women and transgender people should not be deprived of the electoral process.
Violence should not be encouraged during election campaigning and polling and the parties will stop their workers from resorting to violence against the media. Besides display of weapons and firearms during political hustings and on the polling day will be prohibited.
The Election Code of Conduct further binds the parties and candidates to obtain permission for the gatherings during the election campaign. However, it warned that there will be a ban on advertising on the basis of communalism, caste and language and criticism of the private life of political leaders.
Simultaneously with the Election Code of Conduct, the ECP instructed the returning officers to prepare the polling scheme, including details of the proposed polling stations by January 4. It stressed that the appointment of polling staff should be done immediately and approved by DROs.
The ECP said that election staff could be obtained from any government agency, adding that the plan should be released by January 4, after which objections could be filed by January 11. The DROs would dispose of the objections by January 17, it said.
According to the election plan, the ECP said that a polling station should be established for at least 1200 voters, with a maximum of 4 polling booths at a distance of at least one kilometre. It urged the DROs to keep in mind the convenience of the voters while operating the polling stations
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