Nomination Papers Accepted
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) informed the Supreme Court that a significant majority of PTI candidates’ nomination papers for the upcoming general elections had been accepted, refuting the party’s claims of an uneven playing field.
According to data provided by returning officers, 76% of PTI candidates’ nomination papers for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies were approved.
This response came as a reply to a PTI petition alleging contempt of court against the election commission and other authorities for supposedly violating the apex court’s Dec 22 orders. The PTI accused that a substantial portion of their key leaders’ nominations had failed scrutiny and even claimed instances of nomination papers being snatched.
In its reply, the ECP stated it had met with the PTI and assured them of ensuring a fair environment for all candidates without bias. The commission also detailed the measures taken, including issuing instructions to relevant authorities, establishing complaint cells, and promptly addressing PTI’s grievances in all provinces and Islamabad.
Moreover, the ECP highlighted that the acceptance rate of PTI candidates’ nomination papers stood at 76.18%, emphasizing that they were provided a fair platform along with the right to appeal rejections before the appellate election tribunal.
The ECP concluded that it had not defied the court’s orders and had diligently followed through on their directives. The Punjab government also affirmed its commitment to supporting the ECP in conducting free and fair elections, having adhered to instructions and disposed of complaints from political parties accordingly.
They mentioned several steps taken, such as preparing detailed handbooks, ensuring a non-arbitrary scrutiny process for candidates, and establishing control rooms for grievance redressal and monitoring. Additionally, efforts were made to provide information about the electoral process in accordance with election rules.
