ECP reserves decision on details of election expenses case

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday reserved its decision on the issue of not giving details of election expenses.

The issue of non-submission of details of election expenses was heard by a four-member bench headed by member Nisar Durrani.

According to officials, Awami National Party (ANP), Move on Pakistan, Peoples Muslim League Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Raj, Awami Jamhoori Party Pakistan, Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan, and Pakistan Peoples League have not submitted details of election expenses.

Officials of the Election Commission said that Mian Iftikhar Hussain Shah of ANP was contacted several times, but the party failed to implement it. Move on Pakistan was also contacted on their numbers but they did not respond.

The Peoples Muslim League said that they did not participate in the election, therefore, the expenses were not incurred, while the Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan stated that they sent the details on June 28 but were not received.

According to the officials, when the election came, the parties advertised for the tickets application and 149 parties participated. They were allotted election symbols by the Election Commission. Seven parties have not yet submitted the details of the election expenses.

The members of the Election Commission said that some parties are of the opinion that they did not conduct the campaign, why should they give the details? Why did these parties take the election symbol then? The independent candidates have three days to join the party, now they have 15 days and the law is also not effective anymore.

ECP officials said that for not submitting the details of the election expenses, the election symbols should be taken back from these seven parties. We are giving them a final show-cause notice, as they have already been notified.

The Member Election Commission stated that after the 2018 election, Sardar Raza said that the only way is to withdraw the election symbol of the parties who have not submitted the expenses.

Later, the Election Commission reserved its decision on the issue of not giving details of election expenses.