ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will continue to hear appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers today, Monday, the state-run Radio Pakistan said as the South Asian country heads to the polls in less than two months. 

Pakistan’s election oversight body started receiving appeals from candidates against acceptance or rejection of nominations for the 2024 national elections on Sunday. The process to submit appeals to the Election Appellate Tribunal is scheduled to continue till Jan. 3 while the tribunal will have time to dispose off the appeals till Jan. 10. The final list of candidates will be published by the ECP on Jan. 11 while candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by Jan. 12.

“Appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for next general elections can be submitted till Wednesday and decisions on these appeals will be made by the 10th of this month,” Radio Pakistan said in a report. 

As per the report, the ECP has also set up monitoring and control centers to register and resolve public complaints regarding elections. 

“The Election Commission of Pakistan has established the Election Monitoring and Control Centers to register and address public complaints for general elections,” Radio Pakistan said. “The centers have been established at provincial, divisional and district levels, extending beyond Islamabad, for swift resolution of public complaints.”

The election regulator said that trained personnel have been deployed at the monitoring centers to “swiftly” address and resolve complaints. The ECP said people can register complaints related to the general elections with the staff by emailing complaints to [email protected] or sending them via WhatsApp to 0327-5050610.

“A helpline at 111-327-000 has also been established for the convenience of complainants, operating initially from eight morning to six evening,” it added. 

A caretaker government under interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is running the country until the national election is held. Independent analysts and political parties have openly questioned whether Kakar’s administration, which is believed to be close to the all-powerful army, can ensure fair competition in elections. The military says it does not interfere in political affairs.

Questions surround the legitimacy of the election if Khan, who is in jail since August after being convicted on graft allegations, cannot contest. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have also openly complained of a widening crackdown against party members and campaigning activities, and say the legal cases against the PTI founder and other key aides are meant to keep them out of the elections.

The PTI has accused the ECP, caretaker government and the military of denying it a fair chance to contest polls. All three strongly deny Khan’s allegations while Kakar has repeatedly assured that a “level playing field,” a euphemism for fair chance, would be provided to all parties in the upcoming polls, including Khan’s.