PHOTO: FILE
Changes in the nomination forms suggested by the ECP were rejected by the law ministry late last week. Barring a couple of cosmetic changes, the ministry had rejected all the amendments outright, including those seeking the financial details and criminal history of the aspiring candidates.
The ECP, however, had put its foot down, defending the proposed changes as constitutional and told the ministry to refer the matter to the president, who is the final authority.
On Monday, Express News reported that the ECP had first decided to extend its deadline on the matter by a day given the President’s international engagement. However, later in the day it decided to proceed with printing the nomination forms without waiting for the approval, claiming the President’s role in the matter was only ceremonial, and his approval was not mandatory.
The Law minister though differed with this.
“Our ministry worked on it, that takes time. We formed our comments on their proposed amendments,” the law minister told the media outside the parliament on Monday evening. He added that the ministry furnished its comments on the amendments on Thursday, with written copies of it being provided on Friday.
“On Friday evening I was in Karachi, I found out that the ECP had objections on our comments.”
Naek said that the ECP’s proposed amendments and the comments of the law ministry were sent to the President on March 11’s morning. “Under rule 107 of the Representation of Peoples Conduct of Elections 1977, the President has the power to approve the changes.”
The commission had previously set March 11 as the deadline for the president to approve the changes sent by the law ministry but extended this deadline till March 12, as the president is out of the country.
Additional Secretary ECP Afzal Khan told the media in Islamabad that the election commission will strengthen the democratic institutions of the country by taking concrete steps. “The entire country will bear fruits of these steps.”
The additional secretary added that the ECP has all the rights and will strictly follow the given election schedule.
He also requested the media to refrain from sensationalising news and to send “serious and senior” people to cover the elections. “They should take it as a national responsibility.”
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