76pc of PTI nominations papers for upcoming polls accepted, ECP tells SC

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday informed the Supreme Court that 76 per cent of nomination papers filed by PTI candidates for the upcoming general elections had been accepted, negating the party’s allegations of a lack of level playing field in the run-up to polls.

In a response submitted to the apex court, the electoral watchdog, citing data obtained by returning officers (ROs), said 598 out of a total of 843 nomination papers of PTI candidates for the National Assembly had been accepted. Similarly, 1,398 out of 1,777 candidatures for provincial assemblies had been accepted.

The ECP reply was furnished on a PTI petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the election commission and other government authorities for the all­eged violation of the apex court’s Dec 22 orders — in which the SC had directed the ECP to attend to the PTI’s grievances urgently and resolve these expeditiously — and lack of level playing field for the party during the election process.

The PTI has alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to exclude it from the Feb 8 general elections as the top leadership of the party and its allies have been knocked out of the polls race, after almost “90pc of nominations from important leaders” failed to stand the scrutiny exercise. Earlier, it also claimed that the nomination papers of party candidates were snatched.

In a reply submitted today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the ECP said it had held a meeting with the PTI and assured the party that a level playing field would be provided to all the candidates contesting for the polls across the board without discrimination.

It said the election commission’s secretary, who looked after the administrative affairs of the ECP, took follow-up steps on the matter.

“The commission has also issued instructions to the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and all the four provincial chief secretaries, inspector(s) general of police, and all the four provincial election commissioners. In turn, the provincial election commissioners have issued the instructions to the DROs and ROs,” it added.

The ECP further maintained that it had established complaint cells and contact numbers had been shared with the PTI. It claimed that actions had been taken on all the complaints submitted by the PTI in all four provinces and Islamabad.

“The ratio of acceptance of nomination papers of PTI candidates for election to the nation and provincial assemblies is 76.18pc,” the ECP said, highlighting that statistical data showed PTI candidates, their proposers, and seconders were provided with a level playing field.

It further highlighted that the party had a right to appeal the rejection of candidatures before the appellate election tribunal.

“The petitioner (PTI) has been unable to provide any proof that respondent 2 (ECP) has defied the order of the court dated Dec 22 in any manner whatsoever. The commission has taken all possible steps to comply with the order of the court dated Dec 22 […] therefore no contempt of this court is established as contemplated under Article 204 of the Constitution, the contempt petition ex-facie is not maintainable,” the ECP concluded.

It requested that the contempt petition be subsequently dismissed.