ECP asks all Feb 8 contestants to file poll expenses

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the returned candidates to file their election expenses and explained as per Section 134(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, a contesting candidate, other than returned candidate, shall submit the return of his election expenses on Form-C within thirty days of the publication of the name of the returned candidate.

As per Section 134(2), ‘the return of election expenses of the returned candidate and a contesting candidate shall be submitted to the Returning Officer on Form-C’.

The commission said all the contesting candidates of General Elections, 2024 are reminded that they are under obligation to submit their return of election expenses on Form-C within thirty days from the date of issuance of notification of the returned candidate in the respective constituency.

They are, therefore, advised to do the needful within the specified period to avoid action under Section 136(4) and 136(5). It noted prescribed form can be downloaded from the ECP’s website.

Meanwhile, ECP Monday notified appointment of five appellate tribunals for the Senate elections 2024, consisting of high courts judges. According to the notification, issued here, an appellate tribunal has been constituted for the federal capital comprising Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz.

Likewise, an appellate tribunal, headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan for Punjab, the appellate tribunal for Sindh will be headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, the appellate tribunal for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be headed Justice Shakil Ahmed. According to the notification, unlike the other three provinces and the federal capital, two appellate tribunals have been formed for Balochistan, comprising Justice Ejaz Swati and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove.

The scrutiny of nomination papers of 135 candidates will be over by March 19, followed by filing of appeals against acceptance or rejection of nominations. The appeals, if any, will be disposed of by March 25 and the final list of candidates will be published on March 27, followed by polling on April 2 from 9am to 4pm at the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.