Summary Election Commission has introduced draft of unified election law 2014.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made large-scale amendments in the draft of election law.
As per details, the ECP has made it compulsory for the president to announce election date in consultation with the Commission.
“As soon as may be necessary and practicable, the President, in consultation with the Commission, makes an announcement of the date or dates on which the polls shall be taken, the Commission, not later than thirty days of such announcement, shall, by notification in the official Gazette, call upon a constituency or constituencies to elect a representative or representatives and appoint,” the ECP stated.
The election expenses of a contesting candidate shall not exceed Rs6 million for election to a seat in the National Assembly, Rs4 million for election to a seat in the provincial assembly Senate and Rs 2 million for the Senate seat.
The Commission further stated that any person guilty of corrupt practice shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
The Commission warned that a member could face sixty days suspension if failed to submit asset details by the final date.
“The Commission shall, on the sixteenth day of October, by an order suspend the membership of such member for a period of sixty days, who fails to file statement of assets and liabilities by the fifteenth day of October and such member shall cease to function for a period of sixty days” the ECP stated.
“Provided that a member who fails to submit statement of assets and liabilities within the aforesaid period of sixty days, he will continue to remain suspended till the submission of requisite statement.”
Name of an elector shall not be transferred from one constituency to another constituency within ninety days of the polling day for general election, the Commission said.
The Commission suggested that days of scrutiny of the candidates should be increased from 7 days to 15 days.
According to draft, poll in the constituency will be declared void if women are restricted from exercising their right to vote.
“An agreement referred to in clause(g) of sub-section (1) of section 154 has been entered into restraining women from exercising their right to vote, the poll in that constituency ought to be declared void as a whole or a part thereof, it may make a declaration accordingly and by notification in the official Gazette,” the ECP mentioned.
