Elections 2024 : ECP started receiving nomination papers

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday began the process of receiving nomination papers from the candidates seeking to participate in the general elections scheduled for February 8 2024.

The candidates can collect forms from the electoral body from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and submit their nomination papers by December 22 (Friday) for the February 8, 2024 elections.

According to the ECP guidelines, a candidate must be accompanied by two voters of the same constituency who would propose and second his nomination. However, no individual can become a proposer or seconder for more than one candidate.

Though there is no bar on a candidate contesting elections from multiple constituencies, a person may be nominated in the same constituency by not more than five nomination papers.

Candidates usually submit multiple nomination papers from the same constituency as cover in case one gets rejected.

For Karachi, (69) sixty nine returning officers (ROs) and (7) seven district returning officers (DROs) have been posted for (22) national and (47) provincial assemblies seats.

Read Also : ECP issued schedule for Feb 8 general elections

Eligibility criteria for contesting polls

*  citizen of Pakistan who is at least 25 years
*  candidate should be a registered voter in any part of Pakistan for the national assembly and of the province in which he or she is contesting for a provincial assembly seat.

It is mandatory for candidates of women’s reserved seats of the national assembly to be registered voters of that province and fulfill eligibility criteria mentioned in Articles 62-63 of the constitution, which deal with the qualifications and disqualifications of members of parliament.

Fee for filing nomination paper

The non-refundable fee for submission of a nomination paper for a national assembly seat is Rs30,000 while it is Rs 20,000 for a provincial assembly seat.

Election schedule

The public notice will be issued by the returning officer on Dec 19.
Filing nomination papers with the returning officers between Dec 20 to Dec 22,  2023.
The names of the nominated candidates to be published on Dec 23
Scrutiny of the nomination papers by the returning officers on  Dec 24 and 30.
The last date for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officers rejecting or accepting the nomination papers would be completed on Jan 3, 2024.
The last date for deciding the appeals by the appellate tribunal is fixed for Jan 10, 2024.
The ECP would publish the revised list of the candidates on Jan 11 next year.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of a revised list of candidates is Jan 12, 2024.
The poll body will allot election symbol to the contesting candidates on Jan 13 and polling will be held on Feb 8, 2024.