pakistan updates deadline for election nominations until sunday
Published on: December 22, 2023.
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Pakistan Rice Exporters Get Extra Time as Election Nomination Deadline Extended
Pakistan has extended the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers for the upcoming national election by two days, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). This extension allows additional time for former prime ministers Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif to enter the race. The ECP released a statement on Friday, stating that the deadline for submission has been extended to accommodate political parties and candidates. However, the rest of the election schedule leading up to the February 8, 2024 polls will remain unchanged.
Despite facing bans on their participation due to court convictions, both Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif have expressed their intention to submit their nominations. They are currently awaiting relief from higher courts that would allow them to participate in the election. Imran Khan, who is 71 years old, is currently in jail and is facing multiple charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets. His chances of contesting the polls were initially diminished when a court rejected his plea to suspend a conviction that disqualified him from participating. However, his lawyers have challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.
Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has raised concerns about the treatment of its candidates. They claim that “coercive and brutal attempts” are being made to oust them by arresting and harassing them, as well as confiscating their nomination papers before the deadline. On Thursday night, the houses of some PTI candidates were reportedly raided. PTI won the previous national election in 2018, which brought Imran Khan to power for the first time. The party has warned that lack of free, fair, and transparent elections will lead to political instability, which will negatively impact Pakistan’s struggling $350 billion economy. They have also emphasized that their support for an International Monetary Fund program is contingent upon the fairness of the elections.
The ECP will continue to accept nomination papers until Sunday. The final list of qualified candidates for participation will be released on January 11, following a scrutiny and appeals process.
Source: Zawya
