ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned an emergency meeting on Saturday (today) after the Lahore High Court (LHC) annulled the parliament-prepared nomination papers, Geo News reported.
On Friday, LHC dismissed an amendment in the nomination papers and advised the ECP to prepare new nomination papers in line with the Constitution and Elections Act. The court ordered the Commission to again add the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution in the nomination papers.
Following the ruling, the ECP said it has stopped its returning officers from receiving the nomination papers, which, according to schedule, were to be received starting today.
The Commission said that the LHC ordered it to do away with all shortcomings in Forms ‘A’ and ‘B’, and that, as per its orders, it shall make some important decisions in the context of nomination papers.
The LHC affirmed that the ECP has the authority to make any changes in the nomination papers. However, the latest decision would not affect the schedule of the election, the court ruled.
It was also argued that voters should know information of the candidates regarding dual nationality, income tax paid, agriculture tax paid, loan default, government due defaults, criminal record and details of assets and liabilities.
The General Elections 2018 are scheduled to be held on July 25.
On Thursday, the ECP announced the schedule for candidates to file their nomination papers, saying they could be submitted from June 2 to 6, 2018.
The returning officers, it added, would publish the names of the candidates on June 7 and, subsequently, start a scrutiny of their credentials the same day that would end on June 14.
