ISLAMABAD: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to enhance electoral transparency by publishing the decisions of Returning Officers (ROs) on its website regarding objections to the nomination of candidates and the rejection of nomination papers.
The FAFEN said in its press release that under Section 62 (11) of the Elections Act, 2017, ROs are required to endorse their decisions on each nomination paper, either accepting or rejecting it.
The election oversight body argued that although the Elections Act, 2017 does not explicitly mandate the publication of these decisions, Section 4(3) of the Act grants the ECP broad authority to take necessary measures to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
The FAFEN suggests that publishing these decisions on the ECP’s website will promote informed discourse, counter misinformation, and strengthen electoral transparency.
FAFEN Emphasizes Publishing ROs Decisions to Empower Citizens
ECP statistics indicate that approximately 12.4% of candidates’ nomination papers were rejected during the scrutiny process for the upcoming General Elections. FAFEN emphasized that sharing ROs’ decisions will empower citizens to understand the rationale behind these rejections and foster informed opinions about the electoral process. This approach aims to bolster the transparency of the electoral process and safeguard its credibility against misinformation.
According to Section 62(9) of the Elections Act 2017, ROs may reject nomination papers for various reasons, including defects in a candidate’s qualifications, proposer or seconder qualifications, material deficiencies, or falsehood in declarations and documents.
However, ROs cannot reject nomination papers for non-substantial defects and must allow immediate remedies for such issues. The FAFEN suggested that the ECP should ensure strict compliance with these provisions and, if necessary, use its powers under Section 55 to take action against non-compliance.
Furthermore, FAFEN recommends that the ECP review orders passed by officials under the Act or Rules, as provided in Section 8(e) of the Elections Act. This comprehensive approach aims to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and maintain public trust in the democratic system.
