ECP ensuring level-playing field for all parties

JUI-F, MQM-P demand ECP to extend date for submission of nomination papers,

Islamabad_The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued instructions for ensuring a level-playing field for all political groups in the upcoming general elections, a day after the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) voiced concerns over the transparency, integrity and fairness of the elections under incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.

The ECP urged the caretakers to issue orders to the chief secretaries, deputy commissioners and district police officers for ensuring the implementation of the instructions regarding a level-playing field for all political parties.

The ECP ordered that the deputy commissioners should remain unbiased in line with the law and constitution.

Following ECP’s instructions, Punjab’s caretaker government directed the deputy commissioners across Punjab to ensure level-playing field for all political groups. In this respect, the Punjab Local Governments Department has issued a communique to the deputy commissioners and DPOs throughout the province.

Read More From Daily The Destination Islamabad; ECP starts receiving nomination papers for general elections 2024

Earlier,

As the deadline set for the submission of nomination papers for the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024 is going to be over on December 22, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend the last date set for the purpose,

In a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC), Senator Kamran Murtaza of the JUI-F has said that the ECP released the election schedule on the order of the Supreme Court. “Under section 58 of the Election Act, the election commission can introduce changes to the schedule,” the senator writes.

He has argued that since political parties have to distribute tickets among the candidates; therefore, the ECP is requested to extend the deadline by three days. “This will facilitate the JUI-F and other parties to choose better candidates for the polls,” he says.

“However, the duration set for the scrutiny of these papers may be reduced from seven to four days since this will ensure voting on February 8,” Senator Kamran writes.

The senator also makes it clear that neither the party has any other objection to the schedule nor it wants delay in elections.

“Under section 58 of the Election Act, the election commission can make changes to the schedule,” he writes.

On the other hand, MQM-P, too, has requested the ECP to extend the deadline.

In his letter to the CEC, party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that three days are not enough for the submission of nomination papers. “This will deprive a large number of people of the opportunity to contest the elections since they will not be able to submit their papers within the deadline,” he says, adding, “Therefore, the election commission is requested to extend the deadline under section 58 (1) of its Act, 2017.”