ECP reserves verdict in poll financing case

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday reserved its decision on the issue of non-submission of election expenses details and statements of assets 2022-23 by the former and incumbent members of legislatures.

A four-member bench, headed by Member Election Commission Nisar Ahmad Durrani, heard the case, concerning as many as seven political parties and several former and incumbent lawmakers.

The forum was informed that ANP, People’s Muslim League, Pakistan Awami Raj, Awami Jamhoori Party Pakistan, Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan and Pakistan People’s League had not submitted details of election expenses.

According to the Election Commission officials, ANP’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain and others were contacted. People’s Muslim League said they had not participated in the election, therefore, no expenses incurred. Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan claimed to have sent the details on June 28 but these were not received.

As many as 149 parties participated in the election. The Election Commission allotted them election symbols; seven political parties have not yet submitted the details of election expenses.

A member of the Election Commission said independent candidates used to have three days to join the party but now they had 15 days, as the related law was no more there. He said the election symbols should be withdrawn from seven parties for not submitting the election expenses.

Moreover, the Election Commission also reserved its decision on non-filing of returns by the former and incumbent members of the assembly. The bench was informed that the law to submit the returns was about the present members, while the law was silent on submission of details of returns of former members. The ECP officials said when the candidates came to submit their documents in future, they would be told they had not submitted their returns.

Separately, the PTI has submitted affidavits of the elected members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to the Election Commission in line with the Supreme Court’s recent verdict in the reserved seats case. It was learnt that sworn statements of 91 members of the Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were submitted to the Election Commission. Likewise, 105 members of the Punjab Assembly have submitted their affidavits to the Election Commission.