News
Monday, April 01, 2013
Electoral process enters second phase; scrutiny starts from todayOver 7,000 candidates file nomination papers
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The second phase of election starts today (Monday) with the strict scrutiny of the candidates under the provisions of articles 62 and 63.
Compared to the previous general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has put in place a vigorous mechanism to scrutinise the prospective candidates by involving various departments. The scrutiny phase of the election will last seven days, from April 1 to April 7. The ECP had received over 7,000 nomination papers of candidates from across the country, till the filing of this report. Around 2,013 nomination papers had been received for the National Assembly, while around 4,029 papers had been received for provincial assemblies.
The nomination papers filed by the candidates with details about their income, tax and any bank loans would be sent to various departments for authentication. These details would be checked in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, National Accountability Bureau and NADRA. The candidates would be given clean chit only after receipt of response from these departments.
According to the ECP sources, the particulars of nomination papers received on March 29, the previous cut-off date for filing of nomination papers, were sent to various departments for authentication. Around 2,547 forms have been scrutinised, including that of 957 candidates of the National Assembly. These forms were received on the last cut-off date.
The ECP had already written letters to various officials seeking details of those people who have defaulted on utility bills and other government dues. The letters have been sent to the secretary for housing and works, chairman of the National Telecommunication Corporation, WAPDA chairman, managing directors of SSGC and SNGPL, PTA chairman, CDA chairman and the controllers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir Houses. Meanwhile, all the political parties have submitted priority lists for reserved seats to the ECP. The ECP spokesman said on Sunday that the political parties had submitted priority list for national as well as the provincial assemblies.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk