As the deadline set for the submission of nomination papers for the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024 is going to be over on December 22, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to extend the last date set for the purpose, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
In a letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC), Senator Kamran Murtaza of the JUI-F has said that the ECP released the election schedule on the order of the Supreme Court. “Under section 58 of the Election Act, the election commission can introduce changes to the schedule,” the senator writes.
He has argued that since political parties have to distribute tickets among the candidates; therefore, the ECP is requested to extend the deadline by three days. “This will facilitate the JUI-F and other parties to choose better candidates for the polls,” he says.
“However, the duration set for the scrutiny of these papers may be reduced from seven to four days since this will ensure voting on February 8,” Senator Kamran writes.
The senator also makes it clear that neither the party has any other objection to the schedule nor it wants delay in elections.
“Under section 58 of the Election Act, the election commission can make changes to the schedule,” he writes.
On the other hand, MQM-P, too, has requested the ECP to extend the deadline.
In his letter to the CEC, party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that three days are not enough for the submission of nomination papers. “This will deprive a large number of people of the opportunity to contest the elections since they will not be able to submit their papers within the deadline,” he says, adding, “Therefore, the election commission is requested to extend the deadline under section 58 (1) of its Act, 2017.”
Reporters: Usman Khan and Shoaib Mukhtar