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  • Returning Officers launch call for filing nomination papers, officially kicking off Pakistan electoral process


Returning Officers launch call for filing nomination papers, officially kicking off Pakistan electoral process

A tribesman ballot casts his vote in a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud, a town of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on July 20, 2019. (AFP/File)
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Updated 20 December 2023
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Returning Officers launch call for filing nomination papers, officially kicking off Pakistan electoral process

  • Over 128.5 million voters to decide fate of 175 political parties in general elections, ECP data shows
  • 69,263,704 male and 59,322,056 female voters registered to vote in general elections scheduled for Feb. 8
Updated 20 December 2023
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Returning Officers (ROs) on Tuesday issued a public notice for the filing of nomination papers for national and provincial assembly seats, formally kicking off the electoral process for general elections due on Feb. 8.

Over 128.5 million registered voters in Pakistan will decide the fate of 175 political and religious parties in the 2024 election, latest data from the Election Commission of Pakistan shows, with candidates fighting for 266 National Assembly (NA) seats and 593 Provincial Assembly (PA) seats.

“Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP’s) data has revealed that total registered voters in Pakistan are 128,585,760 including 69,263,704 male and 59,322,056 female, who would decide the fate of about 175 political and religious parties,” state-run APP news agency said in a wide-ranging report on the electoral schedule and process.

ELECTION SCHEDULE

According to the ECP’s election schedule for 2024, candidates can file nomination papers with respective returning officers between Dec. 20-22 while the names of all nominated candidates will be published on Dec. 23. 

Returning officers will scrutinize nomination papers between Dec. 24-30, while the last date for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officers rejecting or accepting nomination papers would be completed on Jan. 3. The last date for deciding on appeals by an appellate tribunal will be Jan 10.

The ECP will publish the revised list of the candidates on Jan. 11 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of a revised list of candidates is Jan. 12. The polling body will allot election symbols to contesting candidates on Jan. 13 and polling will take place on Feb. 8.

“This election program would also apply to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochsitan provinces,” APP said.

The last date to file a separate priority list for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims before ROs is Dec. 22.

FEES

The fee to obtain one nomination form has been fixed as Rs10, and each candidate can submit a maximum of five nomination papers with different proposers and seconders. The non-refundable fee for submission of a nomination paper for a national assembly seat is Rs30,000 while it is Rs 20,000 for a provincial assembly seat. 

The fee for a nomination paper can either be submitted directly to the RO or through a bank draft in the RO’s name to any National Bank of Pakistan’s branch, with the receipt attached with the nomination form.

Nomination papers can be obtained from respective returning officers between 8:30am to 4:30pm from Dec. 20-22. Nomination papers need to be submitted with attested copies of computerized national identity cards of the candidates and their proposers and seconders, vote certificates issued by the concerned office of the district election commissioner, candidates’ income tax returns of the last three years and passports.

ELIGIBILITY

The ECP has also issued a criterion for eligibility of contesting candidates for national and provincial assembly seats. A candidate should be a citizen of Pakistan who is at least 25 years old at the final date of filing of nomination papers . The candidate should be a registered voter in any part of Pakistan for the national assembly and of the province in which he or she is contesting for a provincial assembly seat. 

It is mandatory for candidates of women’s reserved seats of the national assembly to be registered voters of that province and fulfill eligibility criteria mentioned in Articles 62-63 of the constitution, which deal with the qualifications and disqualifications of members of parliament.

The proposers and seconders of candidates contesting on general seats should be voters of the relevant constituency while proposers and seconders of national and provincial assembly women and non-Muslim seats should to be voters of that province.

The proposers and seconders of candidates for national assembly seats of non-Muslims should be registered voters in any part of the country. The priority list issued by political parties for reserved seats needs to be attached with the nomination papers of the candidate while a special account for election expenses is required to be opened by the candidates in any scheduled bank, or details and bank statements provided of an already existing account.

Topics: Pakistan elections 2024 general election 2024 Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

Azerbaijan’s foreign minister meets deputy PM amid Pakistan’s push for increased trade, investment

Updated 13 sec ago
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Azerbaijan’s foreign minister meets deputy PM amid Pakistan’s push for increased trade, investment

  • Pakistan is interested in LNG supplies from Azerbaijan, views the relationship as significant for its energy security
  • The two countries have also grown stronger ties in recent years in other areas including defense, trade and culture
Updated 13 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday amid a flurry of diplomatic activity between the South Asian state and the Central Asian region, as Pakistani authorities strive for greater trade and investment to boost their ailing economy.
The relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan have been growing stronger in recent years, particularly in the areas of defense, energy and trade. Last year, the two countries signed an agreement related to the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Azerbaijan to Pakistan at discounted rates to bolster Pakistan’s energy reserves and help address its energy challenges.
On the defense front, military cooperation also deepened with joint military exercises and Azerbaijan’s interest in purchasing JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, reflecting a robust partnership aimed at enhancing their strategic and security capabilities.
Politically as well, the two nations continue to support each other’s key territorial and diplomatic stances on international platforms, reinforcing their political collaboration and mutual geopolitical interests.
“Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov @Bayramov_Jeyhun has arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad,” the foreign office said in a social media post. “He was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50.”
“They will hold comprehensive talks on bilateral and regional issues,” it added.

 
The visiting dignitary arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit on Wednesday night and is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his stay in the country.
Pakistan, which has witnessed a prolonged economic crisis, has sought financial assistance from international lenders and friendly nations. More recently, its officials have shown a greater interest in generating trade with other nations and are seeking foreign investment to reform the economy over the long term.
This month, Pakistani officials announced the United Arab Emirates would invest $10 billion in various sectors, with hopes of securing additional funds from other parts of the Gulf region.
Relations with Azerbaijan are viewed as important for the country’s energy security, as Pakistani officials seek to generate more economic activity in the country in the foreseeable future.

476 Pakistani Hajj assistants arrive in Saudi Arabia to facilitate pilgrims

Updated 30 May 2024
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476 Pakistani Hajj assistants arrive in Saudi Arabia to facilitate pilgrims

  • This year Pakistan chose 550 individuals to assist local pilgrims during Hajj pilgrimage
  • Four hundred and fifty-seven assistants are in Makkah, 19 in Madinah, says official
Updated 30 May 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Four hundred and seventy-six Hajj assistants or “Moavineen” have arrived in Saudi Arabia to assist pilgrims in the cities of Makkah and Madinah weeks before the annual Islamic pilgrimage begins, a Pakistan Hajj Mission official confirmed on Wednesday.
Pakistan selects hundreds of doctors and assistants each year to facilitate local pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during Hajj. These assistants provide Pakistani pilgrims with guidance regarding the pilgrimage, the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah as well as logistical support and medical aid if necessary.
Pakistan chose 550 individuals this year as volunteers to assist pilgrims during Hajj. In a first, candidates had to pass the National Testing Service (NTS) exam to qualify for the service.
“Five hundred and fifty support staff have been selected this year through the third-party NTS after conducting written and physical tests,” Pakistan’s director-general of Hajj, Abdul Wahab Soomro, told Arab News.
“Total 476 support staff have reached Saudi Arabia till date and out of these, 457 are performing duties in Makkah and the remaining 19 are presently posted in Madinah,” he added.
Soomro said 297 individuals have been assigned building management duties while 101 are responsible for transportation.
“Forty-five have been assigned food responsibilities, seven are in the mission’s control office, four are in the inspection cell, two are in the departure cell and one is in the lost and found cell in Makkah,” he said.
Soomro said the assistants’ deployment would be changed as per the requirements.
More than 41,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah since May 9, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has confirmed.
The month-long pre-flight Hajj operation is expected to last till June 9.
Around 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under both the government and private schemes, with this year’s pilgrimage expected to run from June 14-19.

Topics: Hajj 2024

Four Pakistanis killed by Iranian border guards in remote southwestern region — officials

Updated 30 May 2024
AP
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Four Pakistanis killed by Iranian border guards in remote southwestern region — officials

  • The incident happened in Balochistan after a vehicle carrying a group of Pakistanis was targeted
  • Pakistani officials say it is unclear why the Iranian border security guards decided to open fire
Updated 30 May 2024
AP

QUETTA: Iranian border guards opened fire at a vehicle carrying a group of Pakistanis, killing four people and wounding two others in a remote area in the southwest, Pakistani officials said Thursday.
The incident happened near the border village of Mashkel in Balochistan province on Wednesday, local police said. Government administrator Sahibzada Asfand said it was unclear why the Iranian forces opened fire.
Local police say the bodies of the four men had been handed over to their families.
There was no immediate comment from Tehran or Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Security forces on both sides often arrest smugglers and insurgents who operate in the region. Pakistan in tit-for-tat strikes in January targeted alleged militant hideouts inside Iran, killing at least nine people in retaliation for a similar attack by Iran.

Over 41,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia via 170 flights

Updated 30 May 2024
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Over 41,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia via 170 flights

  • Pakistan is using a mobile app, toll-free helplines and WhatsApp numbers to address pilgrims’ complaints
  • Nearly 280 doctors, medical staff are helping pilgrims at two central hospitals and a dozen dispensaries
Updated 30 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: More than 41,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia on 170 flights since the government started transporting people aspiring to perform the annual pilgrimage earlier this month, said a statement released by the religious affairs ministry on Thursday.
This year, the Pakistani Hajj Mission in the kingdom expects to host 70,105 people under the government scheme and more than 80,000 facilitated by private companies
“As of today, 41,477 government Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia on 170 flights,” the ministry said in its statement. “In the next ten days, an additional 28,628 government Hajj pilgrims will reach Makkah.”
It informed that more than 10,500 pilgrims had already arrived in the kingdom under the private Hajj scheme, adding that all pilgrims that first went to Madinah would reach Makkah by June 1.
“The Pak Hajj mobile app, two toll-free helplines, and four WhatsApp numbers are being used to address the complaints of Hajj pilgrims,” the ministry said.
“282 doctors and medical staff are providing medical facilities through two central hospitals and a dozen dispensaries,” it added.
It also said 454 food-related, 1,123 residential and 264 transport complaints had been resolved by the mission in the last 20 days.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime, if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan began its Hajj flight operation on May 9, which will continue till June 9.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.

Topics: Hajj 2024

Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’

Updated 30 May 2024
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Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’

  • British envoy said last month not all parties could fully participate in the polls, some were deprived of election symbols
  • The Supreme Court mentions the past mistakes of British governments that caused suffering to millions around the world
Updated 30 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court criticized a speech delivered by British High Commissioner Jane Marriot in a letter that emerged in the media on Wednesday, saying her reservations about the judiciary’s role in the conduct of the February 8 general elections, which were widely seen as manipulated, were “unjustified.”
The letter written on May 3 referred to the British diplomat’s speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference held last month in Lahore, wherein she said not all political parties were allowed to fully participate in the electoral contest. Her speech, quoted in the media, specifically mentioned the “legal processes” that deprived them of “recognizable party symbols.”
Many Pakistani political parties criticized the last general elections, saying they did not get the required “level playing field” to perform in the national polls. The complaint made by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was particularly high-pitched, as most of its top leadership found itself behind bars on a number of charges amid a crackdown against them that began after violent protests on May 9, which broke out after Khan was briefly detained in a corruption case.
The PTI was also prevented from using its electoral symbol of a cricket bat after a protracted judicial battle by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case relating to flawed intra-party polls.
“The law enacted by Parliament (Election Act, 2017) requires democracy within political parties via the holding of periodical intra-party elections; to forestall autocracy, or even dictatorship within them,” the letter written by the Supreme Court registrar explained. “To ensure compliance with this democratic principle the law stipulates that if a political party does not hold intra-party elections, then it would not be eligible for an election symbol.”
“A political party (which had itself voted in this law) did not hold the mandated intra-party elections,” it continued. “The Supreme Court reiterated what the law stipulated ... Therefore, you Excellency’s criticism with regard to this decision, with utmost respect, was unjustified.”
The letter written on the instructions of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa noted that the proceedings of the hearing were live televised for the public.
It also highlighted other steps taken by the top court to strengthen democracy in the country and make the national and provincial elections possible earlier this year.
The Supreme Court registrar also maintained that Britain had also made several mistakes in the past which had led to unbearable suffering to people in different parts of the world. It specifically mentioned the overthrow of Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh’s government in 1953 and the adoption of the Belfour Declarations that led to the creation of Israel.
It maintained the Supreme Court had acknowledged its past mistakes, adding this should also be done with the British government.
“Let us all stand up and be counted for equality, peace and humanity,” it continued.

Topics: Pakistan elections 2024 Pakistan election 2024 elections 2024

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