Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader opposed 30 days, saying that time period needed a constitutional amendment. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
They asked for 30 days, they might get 14. And so, a committee has proposed that the Election Commission of Pakistan should have only two weeks to pore over nomination papers of candidates who want to stand in the elections this year.
This stand was taken by the Senate subcommittee on electoral reforms on Tuesday after a debate. If it comes through this means that the commission will have half the time it needed to verify data from several departments.
The subcommittee, which is headed by Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), is likely to finalise its recommendations in today’s meeting. It was unable to wrap up the work on Tuesday because not enough members showed up.
It started work on Monday when it was put together by Senator Jahangir Badar. It has yet to be made official though. Senator Kamil Ali Agha from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was not happy that no notification announcing the subcommittee has been issued.
Anusha Rehman from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz opposed 30 days, saying that time period needed a constitutional amendment.
However, MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar suggested that the commission should be given 30 days for scrutiny in case the assemblies were dissolved before the end of their tenure.
The committee also discussed security deposits for contesting candidates.
The MQM had expressed serious concerns that it was increased for national and provincial assembly members to Rs50,000 and Rs25,000, respectively, from Rs4,000 and Rs2,000.
It was decided that candidates of the National Assembly would have to deposit Rs8,000 and provincial assembly members Rs4,000 and this would be a non-refundable payment.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
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Well cant the election take names of the perspective candidates before hand and scrutinize it secretly when they officially apply it will not take any time to decide. Secondly bound all departments to send their info to the election commissioner within 48 hours of receiving the info. Thirdly get agency reports and character reports from revelant sp within 48 hours. fourthly the public should be asked to give proof against the candidate secretly within the period stipulated.
What.. Given how things work in Pakistan, it will take two weeks just to send across the Nomination Papers to the respective review comittees. 1 Month review period should be the bear minimum if not more.