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Defaulters to be ineligible to contest polls: ECPISLAMABAD: The Election Commission on Friday categorically said that the candidates who are defaulters even on minor amount to any department including the parliamentary lodges would be ineligible to contest the elections.
Talking to reporters outside the ECP, Additional Secretary Afzal Khan said the Election Commission has been connected with National Database and Registration Authority, National Accountability Bureau, State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue.
He said all four institutions would be bound to scrutinize the nomination papers within 12 hours after the ECP forwards the cases.
He said the ECP has made preparation for the scrutiny of the applications and almost 99 percent of the task would be carried out through internet.
He said out of 127 districts, internet facility was available in 117 that would help carry out the scrutiny expeditiously.
Afzal Khan said the members of the now-dissolved assemblies would be declared eligible to contest the election only if they clear all dues of the MNA and MPA hostels.
He said the ECP has already dispatched letters to the Provincial Election Commissioners, District Election Commissioners and other officers to convey their responsibilities.
To a question, the additional secretary said even after the completion of scrutiny process, the ECP would be empowered to disqualify any candidate on the basis of strong evidences against him.
He said the scrutiny of the nomination papers would start after the announcement of the election schedule as a Special Scrutiny Room has been set up at the Election Commission.
He said the Chief Election Commissioner would announce the election schedule in his televised address to the nation shortly.
To a question, he said the ECP had finalized 193 election symbols out of those 144 have been allotted.
APP
Courtesy www.geo.tv