ISLAMABAD, May 23: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) continues to keep secret documents it is supposed to make public forthwith under the law.
The documents are the lists submitted by political parties for seats reserved for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies and Section 47-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, required their immediate publication for information of public.
An ECP official told Dawn on Thursday that the lists had been sealed and would be opened next week. The grounds he gave for maintaining secrecy appeared to be flimsy.
He said if the lists were published several people who had not even filed nomination papers would assume that they had become lawmakers. Nomination papers of some of those on the lists had been rejected, he said.
The official disclosed that the commission was being pressurised to allow change in the list and accept nomination papers now.
The political parties file lists of their nominees in order of priority for seats reserved for women and minorities within the time fixed for submission of nomination papers.
The lists contain as many names of additional candidates as a political party deems necessary to provide for any disqualification of candidates during scrutiny of nomination papers or to fill any vacant seat during the term of the assembly. In case of death of or resignation by a member elected on a reserved seat, the next person in order of precedence from the party’s list will fill the vacancy.
No amendment or even change in order of names on the list is permissible under the law. If the list of a party is exhausted and it still has a quota on the basis of its numerical strength in the house, a new schedule is issued inviting nominations accompanied with priority lists.
ELECTION TRIBUNALS: Although the ECP has finally notified the successful candidates, except for the ones stayed by the courts or the result is withheld for any reason, it is yet to notify election tribunals. In the absence of election tribunals those who want to challenge the election in a constituency are either approaching the ECP, flooding it with applications against alleged rigging, or moving superior courts.
Some applicants told Dawn that the commission itself was deciding some cases or advising the applicants to go to election tribunals. In various cases, verbal orders have been passed by the ECP, but the parties are still awaiting written orders.
WINNERS OF MORE THAN ONE SEAT: The ECP official said June 10 was the last date for those securing victory in more than one constituency to resign from all but one seat.
Under Article 223 of the constitution, no person can retain more than one seat in a house.
NA SESSION: Meanwhile, official sources told Dawn that the inaugural session of the National Assembly will be held on May 28.
The only significant agenda of the day will be administration of oath to the members-elect – setting the ground for election of the speaker and deputy speaker and subsequently the leader of the house.