Pakistan: Appellate Tribunals Appointed by ECP for Election Nomination Appeals

Pakistan: Appellate Tribunals Appointed by ECP for Election Nomination Appeals

Pakistan: Appellate Tribunals Appointed by ECP for Election Nomination Appeals

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) designated 24 judges as appellate tribunals to oversee appeals concerning the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for the forthcoming elections, according to a report by Geo News. This announcement follows the conclusion of the five-day nomination filing deadline for the general elections.

As per the notification issued by the ECP under Section 63 of the Elections Act, 2017, these Appellate Tribunals will handle appeals against decisions made by Returning Officers regarding nomination papers of candidates for the National Assembly, Provincial Assembly Constituencies, and seats reserved for women and non-Muslims. The notification outlined that nine judges will preside over tribunals in Punjab, followed by six in Sindh, five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and two each in Balochistan and the federal capital.

The Elections Act, Section 62, permits any voter to object to a candidate’s nomination within a specified scrutiny period by the commission. This section also allows candidates, their agents, proposers, seconders, and a designated voter who has filed an objection to attend the nomination papers’ scrutiny conducted by the Returning Officer.

Moreover, Section 63 empowers a candidate or an objector to appeal against a Returning Officer’s decision on nomination acceptance or rejection to the Appellate Tribunal. These tribunals, comprising High Court Judges appointed by the Commission in consultation with the Chief Justice of the respective High Court, are mandated to expeditiously decide on these appeals. Failure to decide within the specified time will render the Returning Officer’s decision final.

The nominations, per Article 51(3) of the Constitution, include filings for National Assembly seats: 266 general, 60 reserved for women, and 10 for non-Muslims. Each province’s allocations differ, with Punjab having the largest share of general seats (141) and seats reserved for women (32), totaling 371 seats in the provincial legislature. Similarly, other provinces like Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan have their specified seats and reserved quotas.

This step by the ECP is instrumental in ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process by establishing measures to address appeals and objections arising from the nomination phase of the upcoming elections.

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