Islamabad: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has issued a compelling call to Returning Officers (ROs) involved in the 2024 general election, urging them to provide comprehensive decisions on the rejection of candidates’ nomination papers.
In a statement, FAFEN emphasized that transparent and accountable electoral processes hinge upon the issuance of detailed decisions. The network, comprising civil society organizations dedicated to electoral reforms, underscored that ROs are authorized to reject nomination papers only within the specific provisions of the Election Act 2017. It further noted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) holds the authority to reject papers violating the stipulated rules.
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FAFEN highlighted the legal obligation of ROs to furnish written decisions on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers, as mandated by Section 60 of the Election Act 2017. The network stressed the importance of making these decisions public and accessible to all stakeholders, including candidates, media, and voters.
Citing a 12.4 percent rejection rate for nomination papers in the 2024 election, FAFEN pointed out that this figure is higher than the 10.4 percent rejection rate in the 2018 election but lower than the 14.6 percent rejection rate in the 2013 election. The network insisted that reasons for rejections must be explicitly stated and justified by the ROs, fostering a clearer understanding for all concerned parties.