Dual nationality: Affidavit deadline for lawmakers extended

ECP asks lawmakers to file status by November 30.

ISLAMABAD:

Election authorities on Monday gave a gracious concession to lawmakers to file affidavits declaring their dual nationality status by the end of this month.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) not only extended the deadline for members of the national parliament and provincial assemblies till November 30, it also relaxed directives for those who had filed unattested affidavits without stamp of oath commissioners.

Earlier this year in September, the Supreme Court had disqualified around a dozen legislators for being dual nationals and had directed the ECP to secure  fresh oaths from every member that he/she fulfils the requirement of Article 63 of the Constitution which bars dual nationals from becoming lawmakers.

After extension of the deadline that had expired on November 9, if any member of the National Assembly or provincial assembly is declared disqualified for failing to submit such an affidavit on dual nationality, no by-polls will be possible on that seat if it is vacated after November 15.

Under Article 224 of the Constitution, in case any seat falls vacant within 120 days of expiry of the term of an assembly, no by-polls can be held while the five-year term of current assemblies will expire by mid-November.

The new data released by the commission states that there are a total of 89 members who have so far not filed their affidavits.

This number has decreased from over 200 members who were yet to file these affidavits two-days back when the previous deadline had expired. Many leading parliamentarians including the prime minister filed their affidavits after the expiry of the previous deadline.

Polling stations increased

The election commission, during a meeting on Monday, also decided to increase the number of polling stations for the next general elections to facilitate voters.

ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, provincial election commissioners and senior officers of the election body, told reporters in a briefing that there were around 68,000 polling stations across the country in 2008 and the number will be increased for the coming polls.

In Punjab the number of polling stations will be increased from 37,000 to 40,000, in Sindh from 13,500 to 18,000 and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) from 10,000 to around 11,000 — while the number for Balochistan is under process.

Special magistrate powers to DRO, POs

The commission also decided that non-judicial officers deputed as district returning officers would enjoy the powers of special magistrates after the announcement of the election schedule till the completion of the election process.

Similarly, the presiding officers at every polling station will enjoy the powers of a magistrate for three days – including a day before and a day after the polling day – to ensure that they can make the electoral process credible and intervention free. This time, the ECP officials said that officers of grade 17 and above will be deputed as presiding officers.

No transfers of election staff after Dec 31

More than 600,000 government servants – who will be selected for election duties and given training – would not be transferred by the administration without approval from the ECP.

No delimitation in Karachi

ECP’s secretary told reporters that the Sindh government has not taken the required steps to make delimitation of constituencies in Karachi as asked by the Supreme Court some eight months back.

The court had ordered to bring delimitations in constituencies where there is a polarisation leading to ethnic problems and law and order situation.

However, the provincial government has informed the ECP that it cannot do so unless a new census is held, the ECP secretary said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2012.