Summary The Election Commission has been considering to ban defaulters from contesting polls.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission has convened a meeting on Wednesday to take some important issues like defaulters and those not fulfilling the character norms as enshrined in the provisions of the Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution would be barred from contesting the forthcoming general elections, a top official said on Saturday.
“A meeting with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been convened on February 13 wherein the ways and means would be discussed to bar those defaulting on bank loans, utility bills, etc from taking part in the upcoming polls,” Muhammad Afzal Khan, according to Election Commission of Pakistan official.
About the scrutiny of those falling short of the provisions of Articles 62 and 63, the official said: “What for we have been given the one month time? It is for the scrutiny of such candidates. We will be probing the character norms in this one month scrutiny time to ensure the implementation of the constitutional provisions pertaining to elections.”
The official said that under Articles 218 (3) and 219 of the Constitution, it was the duty of the Election Commission to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law and that corrupt practices are guarded against.
