What will happen to political parties failing to adhere to election act?

By: Syeda Masooma and Aqeel Ahmed

In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Aurat Foundation has highlighted the non-implementation of the Election Act by major political parties nationwide.

Apart from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), all major parties have violated Section 206, which mandates a 5 per cent representation of women in both National and Provincial Assemblies.

Political parties neglect ECP’s women’s representation clause

PMLN and MQM are reported to have nominated 9.5 per cent and 7.8 per cent women candidates, respectively, for the National Assembly.

However, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) issued tickets to 4.4 per cent, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to 4.3 per cent, and Awami National Party (ANP) to 3.3 per cent women candidates.

In response to a query by HUM News, ECP Spokesperson Hamid Raza said, “ECP will issue show cause notices after February 8 general elections to those political parties which failed to allocate 5 percent tickets to women on general quota.”

He said that ECP will issue show cause notices in compliance with section 2006 of Elections Act 2017 and will give direct to submit reply within 15 days, failing which ECP can confiscate party election symbol or fine the political party.

It is notable that, after February 8, the confiscation of the electoral symbol might not hold a lot of weight, so the only reprimanding factor than remains the fined amount.

Elections 2024: Deployment plan for civil, armed forces revealed

In case the political parties fail to reply, then the ECP will serve those political parties with show cause notice after general elections.