Bilawal, Zardari, Asad Umar receive nomination papers among other politicians
The receiving and submission of nomination forms for General Election 2018 began on Monday, a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan overruled the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) order for amendments to the document.
The LHC, on Friday, had ruled that the nomination forms of the electoral candidates did not seek necessary information and declarations such as details on educational background, criminal record, and dual citizenship.
The court ordered the ECP to again add the requirements of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution to the nomination papers.
The Supreme Court, however, on Sunday suspended the LHC’s verdict that nullified nomination forms of electoral candidates for the upcoming general elections.
“Returning officers (RO) have begun issuing the nomination papers,” said the ECP.
The commission declared June 8 the last date for submission of nomination papers for the upcoming general elections.
“The ECP will continue to receive the nomination papers in compliance with the approved format in the Election Act 2017, from June 4 till June 8. However, each candidate will submit an affidavit for articles 62 and 63 along with the nomination papers,” added the ECP.
According to the ECP, the nomination papers will be scrutinised on June 14, while appeals against decisions by returning officers can be filed till June 19.
The appeal tribunal will wind up requests by June 26 and a day later, on June 27, candidates’ list will be displayed again.
The candidates will then have time until June 28 to withdraw their nomination papers, after which a new list – with election symbols – will be issued on June 29.
The security fee for national and provincial assembly nomination papers differ. National Assembly nomination papers have a security fee of Rs 30,000 whereas the provincial assembly papers carry a security fee of Rs 20,000.
In Sindh, the nomination form for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who will make his political debut during the 2018 general election, was received for NA-246 (Karachi South-I).
The nomination form for PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for NA-213 (Shaheed Benazirabad-I) was received by a spokesman for the Zardari House.
Meanwhile, notification forms have also been received for Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur for NA-200 (Larkana-I).
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leader and Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman received his nomination form for NA-247 (Karachi South-II).
Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Owais Shah received the nomination form for NA-244 while another former MPA of the party who has now joined the PPP Punjhuml Bhel received the nomination form for the minority seat. JI leader Haroon Sarfraz received the nomination form for NA-244 while former MPA Muhammad Khan Awan received the form for PS-96.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Saifur Rehman received the nomination form for NA-242. Nomination forms for minority seats were received by former PML-F MPA Lakshmandas, PPP leader Rumesh Kumar, PML-N leader Kheealdas Kohistani and PTI leader Dr Pehlaj Ram. PPP leader Surraya Jatoi received the nomination form for seats reserved for women.
For seats from Hyderabad, PTI leader MK Hakim received the form for NA-227 and Zulfiqar Halepoto for NA-225. For provincial assembly seat PS-67, PTI leader Ali Junejo received the nomination form, while PSP leader Nawaz Rashid received the form for PS-65. In Punjab, the first form was received by PML-N leader Tahir Sindhu for NA-130.
The nomination form for PTI leader Asad Umer for NA-54 was also received. The nomination form for PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid for NA-125 was received. Abdul Qadir Gillani, the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, received the nomination form for NA-154. Nomination forms for the NA-154 constituency were also received by Shahzad Maqbool Bhutta (PML-N) and Ahmed Hussain Deharr.
Ali Musa Gillani received the nomination form for NA-157 along with Makhdoom Zain Qureshi (PTI).
Former MNA Jamshed Dasti received nomination forms for NA-182, 183 and 184 along with the form for PP-276.
PML-Q leader Dr Zain Bhatti received the nomination form for NA-80. The nomination form for NA-81 was received by Naseem Sadiq from the Aam Log Party.
PTI-Gulalai leader Maimoona Khan received the nomination form for NA-54.
Likewise in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, the first candidate in Peshawar was Abdul Akbar Khan who submitted his details for the PK-75. He will be contesting the polls on a PTI ticket, the party he defected to from the PPP.
According to the KP election commissioner, 20 returning officers were on duty in Peshawar, whereas sessions judge Anwar Ali Khan was working as the district and returning officer.
In Chaman district of Balochistan, Awami National Party’s Asghar Khan Achakzai obtained the nomination form for NA-263 and PB-23. Balochistan Awami Party’s Abdul Haq Achakzai also took the form for the provincial assembly constituency, PB-23.
On the other hand, ANP’s Zamrak Khan Achakzai and Ameenullah Kakar got the nomination forms for PB-21.
Published in Daily Times, June 5th 2018.
