ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) recently made several changes to election rules, including the introduction of a 15-day period for raising objections. One notable change mandates that candidates create a dedicated bank account exclusively for campaign expenses, prohibiting the use of shared accounts. Another modification requires returning officers (ROs) to provide election results to candidates at the District Election Commission’s office.
Additionally, the ECP will send postal ballots in separate packages to the relevant Returning Officers (ROs), and if the ballots do not reach them before election day, the ROs will not count them. ROs have to promptly inform the electoral watchdog if the declaration of the result exceeds 2:00 a.m. and provide reasons for the delay. The RO will disclose election results in the presence of all candidates, and they will complete forms 47, 48, and 49 before sealing the results.
According to the revised rules, candidates must calculate their campaign expenses and report the details to the ECP. A new rule specifies that the fee for filing an election-related petition with the ECP will be Rs100,000, and the ECP must make a decision within 180 days.
Furthermore, candidates seeking a postponement of the petition hearing will be subject to fines ranging from Rs10,000 to 50,000. The postponement of a case cannot exceed three days, according to another updated rule. Political parties have to notify the election commission of intra-party elections 15 days prior to their occurrence and submit the election results to the ECP within seven days.
Lastly, fines imposed by the election commission will be deposited into the national treasury, as per another amendment.
