ECP to devise mechanism for scrutiny of nomination papers today

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza will chair a meeting today (Monday) to devise an efficient mechanism on scrutiny of nomination papers for candidates in the 2018 general elections.

The first key meeting here at the Election Commission Secretariat after the conclusion of marathon presentations with regards to draft limitations will be attended among others by representatives from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has before it the objective of thrashing out a workable mechanism for collection of candidates’ details regarding written-off loans, default on loans and payment of utility bills, dual nationality and criminal record, if any, to ensure its timely availability to the returning officers. The proposed mechanism involves various departments in the intricate scrutiny process. Its first experiment was made in the previous nation-wide electoral exercise. The Election Commission has alerted through letters, the departments concerned to nominate their focal persons for this meeting.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission’s scrutiny committee formed to look into the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) foreign funding completed its mandated period of one month on May 03, but without completing the scrutiny of the party’s accounts as the PTI failed to submit financial documents.

It was learnt that the committee could not complete its task of scrutinising the PTI foreign funding as the party consistently raised objections to the terms of reference (ToRs) of the committee and stalled production of financial documents sought by it. On the other hand, the petitioner had submitted a dossier to the committee, which had sought replies from the PTI to its 10 questions.

By the time the Election Commission takes up the matter again, the committee will have submitted its report. At the last meeting, the PTI again sought more time for filing replies. Former central leader of the PTI Akbar S Babar had filed a petition in November 2014 in the Election Commission, alleging grave irregularities in foreign funding of the party.