Pakistan: ECP starts the process of general elections, nomination papers will be submitted by December 22; Voting will be held on February 8

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday started accepting nomination papers from prospective candidates. With this the process of upcoming general elections has started. The apex election body said candidates can collect forms from the ECP from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm and submit their nomination papers till December 22.

82 candidates received nomination papers
As the program of conducting parliamentary elections in the country began, a total of 82 candidates received nomination papers in three constituencies within Islamabad on the very first day. Whereas, data from other places was not immediately available. As per the procedure, the Election Commission will release the preliminary list of candidates on December 23. Whereas the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from 24th to 30th December.

After new delimitation there will be 336 seats in NA
The apex election body will allot election symbols to parties and independent candidates on January 13. This will happen a month before the general elections to be held on February 8. After the new delimitation, there will be 336 seats in the National Assembly (NA). Which includes 266 general seats, 60 seats reserved for women and 10 seats for non-Muslims.

How much fee will the candidates deposit?
Guidelines for candidates wishing to submit nomination papers were issued on Tuesday, a leading Pakistani newspaper reported. A day before this, the ECP had started receiving nomination papers for both the national and provincial assemblies. Those contesting elections for the National Assembly will have to deposit Rs 30,000 along with the nomination documents. While the fee for Provincial Assembly is Rs 20,000. A candidate is legally allowed to submit a maximum of five nomination papers.

Who can contest elections in Pakistan
According to the rules, any Pakistani citizen of the age of twenty-five or more is eligible to contest elections from any seat in any National Assembly. Whereas the candidates for the Provincial Assembly must be from the respective province. According to another leading newspaper, nomination papers will be filed for 22 National Assembly seats and 47 provincial seats in Karachi. While 69 returning officers and seven district returning officers have been deployed for the national and provincial assemblies.