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THE ELECTIONS ACT, 2017
CONTENTS
__________
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Definitions
CHAPTER II
ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
3. Procedure of the Commission
4. Power to issue directions
5. Assistance to the Commission
6. Delegation of powers
7. Power to requisition property
8. Power of Commission to ensure fair election
9. Power of the Commission to declare a poll void
10. Power to punish for contempt
11. Expenditure charged upon Federal Consolidated Fund
12. Measures for training and public awareness
13. Establishment of results management system
14. Action Plan
15. Complaints
16. Commission to submit an annual report
Page 1 of 122
CHAPTER III
DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES
17. Commission to delimit constituencies
18. Seats in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies
19. Delimitation of constituencies
20. Principles of delimitation
21. Reports of Commission and list of constituencies
22. Power of Commission to make amendment, alteration or modification in the final list of
constituencies
CHAPTER IV
ELECTORAL ROLLS
23. Preparation and computerization of electoral rolls
24. Appointment of Registration Officers
25. National Database and Registration Authority to transmit data
26. Preparation of preliminary electoral rolls
27. Place of residence
28. Preliminary publication
29. Appointment of Revising Authorities
30. Period for lodging claims and objections
31. Transfer of name from one electoral area to another
32. Application by the Registration Officer for inclusion of name
33. Enquiry into claims and objections
34. Correction of electoral rolls
35. Final publication
36. Periodical revision of electoral roll
37. Enrolment and correction other than periodical revision
38. Preparation of rolls afresh
39. No revision, correction or transfer after constituency called upon to elect
Page 2 of 122
40. Power of the Commission to modify electoral roll
41. Maintenance of electoral rolls
42. Duration of the electoral rolls
43. Information regarding deaths
44. Sharing of information with National Database and Registration Authority
45. Enrolment only once
46. Validity of electoral rolls not affected by any mistake
47. Special measures for enrolment of women voters
48. Enrolment of non-Muslims etc
48A. Status of Ahmadis etc. to remain unchanged
49. Departure from normal procedure in exceptional circumstances
CHAPTER V
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS TO THE ASSEMBLIES
50. Appointment of District Returning Officer
51. Appointment of Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers
52. Dates of appointments
53. Presiding Officers and Polling Officers
54. Duties of election officials
55. Disciplinary proceedings
56. Oath by election officials
57. Notification of Election Programme
58. Alteration in Election Programme
59. Polling stations
60. Nomination for election
61. Deposits
62. Scrutiny
63. Appeal against scrutiny order
Page 3 of 122
64. Publication of list of candidates
65. Withdrawal
66. Candidate to file certificate of party affiliation
67. Contested election and allotment of symbols
68. List of contesting candidates
69. One day poll
70. Hours of the poll
71. Printing of ballot papers
72. Retirement from election
72B. Effect of Section 72A
73. Death of a candidate after nomination
74. Postponement under certain circumstances
75. Uncontested election
76. Election agent
77. Polling agent
78. Supply of ballot boxes
79. Supply of final electoral rolls
80. Supply of ballot papers
81. Election by secret ballot
82. Admission to the polling station
83. Maintenance of order at the polling station
84. Voting procedure
85. Tendered Ballot Papers
86. Challenge of voters
87. Spoilt Ballot Papers
88. Stopping of the poll
Page 4 of 122
89. Voting after close of poll
90. Proceedings at the close of poll
91. Statement about turnout of women voters
92. Announcement of provisional results
93. Postal ballot
94. Voting by Overseas Pakistanis
95. Consolidation of results
96. Resealing of packets and supply of copies
97. Equality of votes
98. Declaration of results
99. Documents to be retained by the Commission
100. Public inspection of documents
101. Order for production of documents
102. Bye-elections
103. Electronic voting and biometric verification
CHAPTER VI
ELECTION TO RESERVED SEATS IN AN ASSEMBLY
104. Party lists for reserved seats
104A. Consent for joining of political party by independent returned candidate to be irrevocable etc.
CHAPTER VII
CONDUCT OF ELECTION TO THE SENATE
105. Returning Officers and Polling Officers
106. Functions of Returning Officer
107. Notification for election
108. Supply of list of voters
109. Polling station
110. Nomination for election
Page 5 of 122
111. Deposit
112. Scrutiny
113. Appeal against scrutiny order
114. Publication of list of candidates
115. Withdrawal
116. Death of a candidate after nomination
117. Postponement under certain circumstances
118. Uncontested election
119. Contested election
120. Hours of poll
121. Adjourned poll
122. Voting procedure
123. Proceedings at the close of poll
124. Declaration of result of election
125. Appeal against count
126. Commission to have certain powers of a court
127. Casual vacancy
128. Extension of time for completion of election
129. Term of office
130. Vacancy in electoral college not to invalidate election
131. Drawing of lots
CHAPTER VIII
ELECTION EXPENSES AND STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
132. Restriction on election expenses
133. Bank account for election expenses
134. Return of election expenses
135. Inspection of returns
Page 6 of 122
136. Action relating to election expenses
137. Submission of statement of assets and liabilities
138. Publication of statement of assets and liabilities
CHAPTER IX
ELECTION DISPUTES
139. Election petition
140. Appointment of Election Tribunals
141. Powers of the Election Tribunal
142. Presentation of petition
143. Parties to the petition
144. Contents of petition
145. Procedure before the Election Tribunal
146. Appearance before Election Tribunal
147. Contents of reply
148. Procedure before Election Tribunal for trial of petitions
149. Amendment of petition
150. Place of trial
151. Power to transfer petition
152. Advocate-General to assist the Election Tribunal
153. Recrimination where seat is claimed
154. Decision of the Election Tribunal
155. Appeal against decision of Election Tribunal
156. Ground for declaring election of returned candidate void
157. Ground for declaring a person other than a returned candidate elected
158. Ground for declaring election as a whole void
159. Decision in case of equality of votes
160. Other provisions relating to the Election Tribunal
Page 7 of 122
161. Withdrawal of petition
162. Abatement on death of petitioner
163. Death or withdrawal of respondent
164. Failure of petitioner to appear
165. Additional powers of Election Tribunal
166. Order as to costs
CHAPTER X
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
167. Corrupt practice
168. Bribery
169. Personation
170. Undue influence
171. Capturing a polling station or polling booth
172. Tampering with papers
173. Making or publishing a false statement or declaration
174. Penalty for corrupt practice
175. Illegal practice
176. Disorderly conduct near polling station
177. Canvassing in or near the polling station
178. Interference with the secrecy of voting
179. Adversely affecting the interests of candidate
180. Regulation of publicity
181. Prohibition of announcement of development schemes
182. Prohibition of public meetings during certain period
183. Penalty for illegal practice
184. Violation of official duty in connection with election
185. Failure to maintain secrecy
Page 8 of 122
186. Officials not to influence voters
187. Assistance by Government servant
188. Penalty for violation of official duty in connection with election
189. Enrollment as voter for more than once
190. Cognizance and trial
191. Prosecution of offences by public officers
192. Certain offences triable by Registration Officer
193. Certain offences triable by authorized officers
194. Powers of a Police Officer
195. Information not to be divulged
196. Offences punishable under Pakistan Penal Code
197. Court to report convictions to the Commission
198. Punishment not in derogation of any other liability
199. Provisions of the Code to apply
CHAPTER XI
POLITICAL PARTIES
200. Formation of political parties
201. Constitution of political parties
202. Enlistment of political parties
203. Membership of political parties
204. Membership fee, contributions and donations
205. Suspension or expulsion of a member
206. Selection for elective offices
207. Functioning of a political party
208. Elections within a political party
209. Certification by the political party
210. Information about the sources of funds
Page 9 of 122
211. Campaign finance
212. Dissolution of a political party
213. Effects of dissolution of political party
CHAPTER XII
ALLOCATION OF SYMBOLS
214. List of election symbols
215. Eligibility of party to obtain election symbol
216. Application for allocation of symbol
217. Allocation of symbols
218. Symbol disputed by a political party
CHAPTER XIII
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
219. Commission to conduct elections
220. Electoral rolls
221. Delimitation of local government constituencies
222. Appointment of Delimitation Committee
223. Appointment of Delimitation Authority
224. Election officials and polling stations
225. Appeal against scrutiny order
226. Election against reserved seats
227. Notification of election and a vacancy
228. Bye-elections
229. Application of provisions to local government election
CHAPTER XIV
CARETAKER GOVERNMENT
230. Functions of caretaker Government
CHAPTER XV
Page 10 of 122
MISCELLANEOUS
231. Qualifications and disqualifications
232. Disqualification on account of declaration by court
233. Code of Conduct
234. Monitoring of election campaign
235. Absence of candidates not to invalidate acts
236. Jurisdiction of courts barred
237. Protection of actions taken in good faith
238. Election observers
239. Power to make rules
240. Removal of difficulties
241. Repeal
Page 11 of 122
THE ELECTIONS ACT, 2017
[2nd October, 2017]
ACT NO. XXXIII OF 2017
An Act to amend, consolidate and unify laws relating to the conduct of elections.
WHEREAS it is expedient to amend, consolidate and unify laws relating to the conduct of
elections and matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Elections Act,
2017.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(i) “aalim’’ means a Muslim scholar who—
(a) holds a degree or a sanad requiring conclusion of at least sixteen years
of education recognized by the Higher Education Commission; and
(b) has at least twenty years‘ experience as a teacher or researcher in fields
relating to the principles and philosophy of Islam and Islamic law;
1
[(ia) “accredited” means authorized by the Commission;]
(ii) “applicable local government law” means an Act of Majlis-e-Shoora
(Parliament) or of a Provincial Assembly for establishment of a local
government and includes an Ordinance;
(iii) “Article” means Article of the Constitution;
(iv) “Assembly” means the National Assembly or a Provincial Assembly;
(v) “asset” means any property owned or held by a candidate or a Member 1[, his
spouse and dependent children];
(vi) “bye-election” means an election to fill a casual vacancy;
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s.2.
Page 12 of 122
(vii) “candidate” means a person proposed and seconded as a candidate for, or
seeking, election as a Member;
(viii) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898);
(ix) “Commission” means the Election Commission of Pakistan constituted under
Article 218;
(x) “Commissioner” means the Chief Election Commissioner appointed under
Article 213 and includes an Acting Chief Election Commissioner appointed
under Article 217;
(xi) “constituency” means a constituency delimited under this Act;
(xii) “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
(xiii) “contesting candidate” means a validly nominated candidate who has not
withdrawn his candidature;
(xiv) “election agent” means a person appointed by a candidate as his election agent
under this Act, and, where no such appointment is made, the candidate acting
as his own election agent;
(xv) “election expenses” means any expenditure incurred before, during and after an
election or payment made, whether by way of gift, loan, advance, deposit or
otherwise, for the arrangement, conduct or benefit of, or in connection with or
incidental to the election of a candidate, including the expenditure on account
of issuing circulars or publications but does not include the deposit made under
section 61 or section 111;
(xvi) “electoral area” means—
(a) in rural areas, a village or a census block;
(b) in urban areas,—
I. where there is a municipal ward or census block, such ward or
census block;
II. where there is no municipal ward or a census block, a well-
defined Mohallah or a street;
III. where the ward or census block, Mohallah or street is too big, a
well-defined part thereof:
Provided that a census block shall not be divided except in exceptional circumstances for
reasons to be recorded;
Page 13 of 122
(c) such other area as may be determined by the Commission;
(xvii) “election observer” means a person authorized by the Commission to observe
the conduct of an election;
(xviii) “election official” includes an officer or official of the Commission, a District
Returning Officer, a Returning Officer, an Assistant Returning Officer, a
Presiding Officer, an Assistant Presiding Officer, a Polling Officer or any
officer or official of law enforcing agency or other agencies or any other official
appointed or deputed to perform duties in connection with an election;
(xix) “Election Programme” means an Election Programme notified by the
Commission under this Act;
(xx) “electoral roll” means an electoral roll prepared, revised or corrected under this
Act and includes the electoral rolls prepared under the Electoral Rolls Act 1974
(XXI of 1974), existing immediately before the commencement of this Act;
(xxi) “Form” means a Form appended to this Act;
(xxii) “Government” means the Federal Government and any Government ‘means the
Federal Government, a Provincial Government or a local government;
(xxiii) “government dues and utility expenses” include rent, charges of rest houses or
lodges or other accommodation owned by any Government or a body owned or
controlled by any Government but shall not include the government dues and
utility expenses the recovery of which has been stayed by any order of a court;
or tribunal;
(xxiv) “loan”, means any loan, advance, credit or finance obtained or written off on or
after 31st December, 1985 but shall not include the loan the recovery of which
has been stayed by a court or tribunal;
(xxv) “local government” means a local government, by whatever name called,
established by law;
(xxvi) “Member” means member of an Assembly, the Senate or a local government;
(xxvii) “National Database and Registration Authority” means the National Database
and Registration Authority constituted under the National Database and
Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000);
(xxviii) “political party” means an association of citizens or a combination or group of
such associations formed with a view to propagating or influencing political
opinion and participating in elections for any elective public office or for
membership of a legislative body, including an Assembly, the Senate, or local
government;
Page 14 of 122
(xxix) “population” means the population in accordance with the last preceding census
officially published;
(xxx) “prescribed” means prescribed by the Rules;
(xxxi) “Presiding Officer” means a Presiding Officer appointed under this Act for a
polling station and includes an Assistant Presiding Officer performing the
functions of a Presiding Officer;
(xxxii) “provisional” means unofficial and not final;
(xxxiii) “Registration Officer” means a Registration Officer appointed under this Act
and includes an Assistant Registration Officer performing the functions of a
Registration Officer;
(xxxiv) “returned candidate” means a candidate who has been declared elected as a
Member under this Act;
(xxxv) “Revising Authority” means a person appointed under this Act to hear and
dispose of claims and objections and applications for corrections relating to the
electoral rolls;
(xxxvi) “Rules” means rules made under this Act;
(xxxvii) “section” means a section of this Act;
(xxxviii)“tax” includes a tax levied by any Government, but shall not include taxes the
recovery of which has been stayed by a court or tribunal;
(xxxix) “technocrat” means a person who—
(a) holds a degree requiring conclusion of at least sixteen years of education
recognized by the Higher Education Commission; and
(b) has at least twenty years of 1[post-qualification] experience including a
record of achievement at the national or international level;
(xl) “validly nominated candidate” means a candidate whose nomination paper has
been accepted; and
(xli) “voter” means—
(a) in relation to an Assembly or a local government, a person who is
enrolled as a voter on the electoral roll of any electoral area in a
constituency; and
(b) in relation to the Senate, a person who—
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s.2.
Page 15 of 122
I. for election to a seat from a Province, is a Member of the
Provincial Assembly; 1[and]
II. for election to seats from the Islamabad Capital Territory, is a
Member of the National Assembly 1[.]
1
III. [* * * * * * *]
CHAPTER II
ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
3. Procedure of the Commission.— (1) In the performance of its functions, and duties and
exercise of its powers, the Commission shall regulate its own procedure.
(2) The Commission may exercise its powers and perform its functions even if the office of
any member of the Commission is vacant or any of the members is, for any reason, unable to attend
the proceedings of the Commission, and the decision of the majority of the members shall have the
effect of the decision of the Commission.
(3) If, upon any matter requiring a decision of the Commission, there is difference of opinion
amongst its members, the opinion of the majority shall prevail and the decision of the Commission
shall be expressed in terms of the opinion of the majority:
Provided that—
(a) where the members attending the proceedings of the Commission are
four and they are equally divided in their opinion; or
(b) where the members attending the proceedings of the Commission are
three and there is difference of opinion amongst them;
the matter shall be placed for decision before the full Commission, comprising all its members.
(4) In this section and section 6, the term ‘member of the Commission’ includes the
Commissioner.
4. Power to issue directions.— (1) The Commission shall have the power to issue such
directions or orders as may be necessary for the performance of its functions and duties, including an
order for doing complete justice in any matter pending before it and an order for the purpose of
securing the attendance of any person or the discovery or production of any document.
(2) Any such direction or order shall be enforceable throughout Pakistan and shall be executed
as if it had been issued by the High Court.
(3) Anything required to be done for carrying out the purposes of this Act, for which no
provision or no sufficient provision exists, shall be done by such authority and in such manner as the
Commission may direct.
1
Added, subs., and omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s.2.
Page 16 of 122
5. Assistance to the Commission.— (1) The Commissioner or the Commission may require
any person or authority to perform such functions or render such assistance for the purposes of this
Act as he or it may direct.
(2) It shall be the duty of all executive authorities in the Federation and in the Provinces to
render such assistance to the Commissioner and the Commission in the discharge of his or its functions
as may be required by the Commissioner or the Commission.
(3) The Federal Government and each Provincial Government shall make available to the
Commission such staff as it may require for the performance of its functions under this Act:
Provided that where the Commission decides to utilize the services of serving judicial officers,
it may do so in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
(4) After the Election Programme has been issued and till the publication of the names of the
returned candidates in the official Gazette, any Government or authority shall not post or transfer any
official appointed or deputed in connection with an election without prior approval in writing of the
Commission, including posting or transfer the decision in respect whereof has not been implemented,
and the Commission may itself issue necessary directions to any such Government or authority for the
posting or transfer of any official.
6. Delegation of powers.—(1) The Commission may authorize the Commissioner or any of
its members or any of the officers of the Commission to exercise and perform any of its powers and
functions under this Act.
(2) The Commissioner shall exercise powers relating to the appointment of officers and staff
to be employed in connection with the functions of the Commission and determine their terms and
conditions of employment in accordance with the Rules.
(3) The Commissioner shall constitute benches comprising 1[two] or more members of the
Commission to hear and decide complaints, applications, petitions or appeals filed before it under this
Act.
(4) The decision of a Bench constituted under sub-section (3) shall be deemed to be a decision
of the Commission except where due to difference of opinion among members of the bench, the matter
is required to be placed before the full Commission for decision under section 3.
7. Power to requisition property.— (1) A Provincial Government, deputy commissioner,
political agent or head of district administration, by whatever name called, shall, upon a request made
in this behalf by the Commission, requisition a vehicle, vessel or other means of transportation as is
needed or is likely to be needed for the purpose of transporting to and from any polling station ballot
boxes or other election material or any officer or other person engaged for the performance of any duty
in connection with an election.
(2) A Provincial Government, deputy commissioner, political agent or head of district
administration, by whatever name called, shall not requisition a vehicle, vessel or other means of
transportation which is being used by a candidate or his election agent for any purpose connected with
the election of such candidate.
1
Subs. by Act No. II of 2019, by s. 2.
Page 17 of 122
(3) Any person authorized in this behalf by the Provincial Government may take possession
of a vehicle, vessel or other means of transportation requisitioned under sub-section (1) and may for
that purpose use such force, including police force, as may be reasonably necessary.
(4) Where any vehicle, vessel or other means of transportation is requisitioned under sub-
section (1), there shall be paid to the owner thereof compensation the amount of which shall be
determined by the Provincial Government or the officer requisitioning the vehicle, vessel or other
means of transportation on the basis of the fares and rates prevailing in the locality for its hire.
(5) Where the owner of the vehicle, vessel or other means of transportation, being aggrieved
by the amount of compensation so determined makes an application to the Provincial Government
within a period of thirty days from the date the amount has been determined, for the matter being
referred to an arbitrator agreed upon by the parties, the amount of compensation to be paid shall be
such as the arbitrator appointed in this behalf by the Provincial Government may determine.
8. Power of Commission to ensure fair election.— Save as otherwise provided, the
Commission may—
(a) stop the polls at one or more polling stations at any stage of the election
if it is convinced that it shall not be able to ensure the conduct of the
election justly, fairly and in accordance with law due to large scale
malpractices, including coercion, intimidation and pressures, prevailing
at the election;
(b) review an order passed by an officer under this Act or the Rules,
including rejection of a ballot paper; and
(c) issue such instructions, exercise such powers and make such
consequential orders as may in its opinion, be necessary for ensuring
that an election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance
with the provisions of this Act and the Rules.
9. Power of the Commission to declare a poll void.— (1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Act, if, from facts apparent on the face of the record and after such enquiry as it may
deem necessary, the Commission is satisfied that by reason of grave illegalities or such violations of
the provisions of this Act or the Rules as have materially affected the result of the poll at one or more
polling stations or in the whole constituency including implementation of an agreement restraining
women from casting their votes, it shall make a declaration accordingly and call upon the voters in the
concerned polling station or stations or in the whole constituency as the case may be, to recast their
votes in the manner provided for bye-elections.
Explanation.— If the turnout of women voters is less than ten percent of the total votes polled
in a constituency, the Commission may presume that the women voters have been restrained through
an agreement from casting their votes and may declare, polling at one or more polling stations or
election in the whole constituency, void.
Page 18 of 122
(2) Notwithstanding the powers conferred on it by sub-section (1), the Commission may order
filing of complaint under this Act before a court of competent jurisdiction against persons who entered
into the agreement referred to in sub-section (1).
(3) Notwithstanding the publication of the name of a returned candidate under section 98, the
Commission may exercise the powers conferred on it by sub-section (1) before the expiration of sixty
days after such publication; and, where the Commission does not finally dispose of a case within the
said period, the election of the returned candidate shall be deemed to have become final, subject to the
decision of an Election Tribunal on an election petition, if any.
(4) While exercising the powers conferred on it by sub-section (1), the Commission shall be
deemed to be an Election Tribunal to which an election petition has been presented and shall,
notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter IX, regulate its own procedure.
(5) Any person aggrieved by a declaration of the Commission under this section may, within
thirty days of the declaration, prefer an appeal to the Supreme Court.
10. Power to punish for contempt.— The Commission may exercise the same power as the
High Court to punish any person for contempt of court and the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003
(V of 2003), or any other law pertaining to contempt of court shall have effect accordingly as if
reference therein to a “court” and to a “judge” were a reference, respectively, to the “Commission”
and the “Commissioner” or, as the case may be, a member of the Commission.
11. Expenditure charged upon Federal Consolidated Fund.— (1) The remuneration
payable to the Commissioner, members and other officers and staff of the Commission and all
administrative expenses and other expenditure relating to the Commission shall be expenditure
charged upon the Federal Consolidated Fund, within the meaning of Article 81.
(2) Subject to the provisions relating to audit and applicable laws and rules, the Commissioner
shall have full financial powers to sanction and incur expenditure within the approved budgetary
allocation, including creation of posts.
12. Measures for training and public awareness.—The Commission shall, from time to time
as it may deem fit,—
(a) conduct training programs for election officials including officials of the
Commission, any Government or corporations, and autonomous or
semi-autonomous bodies controlled by any of these Governments and
officers from the judiciary, if any, deputed or selected in connection with
an election in accordance with procedure laid down under this Act or the
Rules;
(b) advise public authorities, educational and training institutions regarding
programmes and measures to promote dissemination of knowledge
regarding electoral laws and best practices;
Page 19 of 122
(c) conduct public awareness programmes and media campaigns, regarding
the importance of maximum voter enrolment and participation in
elections, especially by women 1[non-Muslims, disabled person and
transgender], dissemination of information regarding procedure of
casting vote, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the
electoral process; and
(d) examine laws, rules and regulations in force which are relevant to the
conduct of elections and recommend to the Federal Government
amendments in such laws, rules or regulations, as the case may be, in
order to increase transparency and fairness and eliminate corrupt
practices.
13. Establishment of results management system.—(1) The Commission shall establish a
transparent results management system for expeditious counting, tabulation, compilation,
transmission, dissemination and publication of results in the official Gazette and on the website of the
Commission.
1
[(2) The Presiding Officer shall immediately take snapshot of the result of the count and, as
soon as connectivity is available and it is practicable, send it electronically or through other appropriate
technologies to the Commission and the Returning Officer before sending the original documents
under section 90:
Provided that in case connectivity is not available and it is not practicable to send the results
electronically or through other appropriate technologies, the Presiding Officer shall immediately
proceed physically with the results to the Returning Officer as provided in sub-section (18) of section
90.
(3) The Returning Officer shall compile the complete provisional results as early as possible
and shall communicate these results electronically to the Commission:
Provided that if, for any reason, the results are incomplete by 02:00 a.m. on the day
immediately following the polling day, the Returning Officer shall communicate to the Commission
provisional results as consolidated till that time along with reasons for the delay, in writing, while
listing the polling stations from which results are awaited and thereafter shall send the complete
provisional results as soon as compiled but not later than 10:00 a.m.]
(4) The Returning Officer shall electronically send to the Commission—
(a) scanned copy of the provisional results compiled under sub-section (3);
and
(b) scanned copies of the Consolidated Statement of the Results of the
Count, Final Consolidated Result together with Results of the Count and
the Ballot Paper Accounts, as received by him from the Presiding
Officers under sub-section (18) of section 90.
1
Ins. and subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss.3-4.
Page 20 of 122
(5) The Returning Officer shall also send to the Commission original copies of documents
mentioned in sub-sections (3) and (4) through special messenger or any other swift means of
communication including urgent mail service or courier service, as may be directed by the
Commission.
(6) The Commission shall publish the documents received under sub-section (3) along with
gender disaggregated data of turnout on its website 1[as early as possible].
14. Action Plan.— (1) The Commission shall, at least four months before the general election
is due to be held on expiry of the term of an Assembly, prepare a comprehensive Action Plan specifying
all legal and administrative measures that have been taken or required to be taken in respect of the
election, including the following—
(a) delimitation of constituencies;
(b) revision of electoral rolls;
(c) enlistment of political parties;
(d) allocation of symbols;
(e) appointment and training of District Returning Officers, Returning
Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant
Presiding Officers, Polling Officers and other election officials;
(f) preparation of constituency-wise list of polling stations and list of
polling personnel;
(g) determination and printing of requisite number of ballot papers and
designation of printing presses;
(h) establishment of a transparent result management system for election
results;
(i) introduction of any new technology;
(j) arrangements for election observers;
(k) appointment of the Appellate and Election Tribunals;
(l) security measures; and
(m) monitoring mechanism to report progress regarding implementation of
the Action Plan.
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 4.
Page 21 of 122
(2) The Commission shall carry out a post-election review of implementation of the Action
Plan to ascertain shortcomings, if any, with suggestions to further improve the electoral system.
(3) The Commission shall include the post-election review in its next annual report under
section 16 and publish it on its website.
15. Complaints.— (1) Any person aggrieved by any decision or action taken or direction
issued by an authority subordinate to the Commission or any action of a political party or a candidate
in violation of the Code of Conduct may, within 1[seven] days of such decision or action, submit a
complaint to the Commission pertaining to matters other than relating to election disputes falling under
Article 225.
(2) The Commission may refer the complaint received under sub-section (1) to such authority
as it may deem appropriate for enquiry and report.
(3) The Commission may, on receipt of enquiry report or after hearing the complainant and any
other person relevant to the proceedings itself and holding a summary enquiry, pass such orders as it
may deem fit within thirty days from the date of receipt of the complaint 1[:]
1
[Provided that the Commission shall, before the day of polling, make every effort to decide a
complaint received prior to that day.]
(4) The Commission may also act under this section on its own accord.
(5) The Commission shall publish the order passed under sub-section (3) on its website.
16. Commission to submit an annual report.— (1) The Commission shall, within ninety days
after the end of every calendar year, publish a report of its activities for the year and send the report to
the Federal Government and each Provincial Government.
(2) The Federal Government and each Provincial Government shall, within sixty days from the
receipt of the annual report from the Commission, lay the annual report in each House of Majlis-e-
Shoora (Parliament) and each Provincial Assembly.
(3) Immediately after the annual report is laid in any House of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament),
the Commission shall publish the annual report on its website.
CHAPTER III
DELIMITATION OF CONSTITUENCIES
17. Commission to delimit constituencies.— (1) The Commission shall delimit territorial
constituencies for elections to the National Assembly, each Provincial Assembly and to the local
governments in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, this Act, the Rules and the
applicable local government law.
1
Subs. and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 5.
Page 22 of 122
(2) The Commission shall delimit constituencies after every census officially published.
18. Seats in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies.—(1) There shall be seats in
the National Assembly allocated to each Province, Islamabad Capital Territory, 1[* * *] and seats
reserved for women and non-Muslims, as specified in Article 51.
(2) There shall be seats in each Provincial Assembly consisting of general seats and seats
reserved for women and non-Muslims, as specified in Article 106.
19. Delimitation of constituencies.—(1) For the purpose of election to the National
Assembly, the Commission shall divide—
(a) each Province into as many separate territorial constituencies as the
number of general seats allocated to that Province in Article 51; and
1
[(b) Islamabad Capital Territory into as many separate territorial
constituencies as the number of general seats allocated thereto in
Article 51.]
(2) A Province shall be a single constituency for all seats reserved for women which are
allocated to each Province in Article 51.
(3) The constituency for all seats reserved for non-Muslims in the National Assembly shall be
the whole country.
(4) For the purpose of election to Provincial Assemblies, the Commission shall divide each
Province into as many separate territorial constituencies as the number of general seats specified in
Article 106.
(5) The constituencies for the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the Provincial
Assemblies shall be such that each Province forms one constituency with as many such seats as are
allocated to that Province in Article 106.
(6) For the purpose of election to the local governments, the Commission shall carry out
delimitation with due regard to the applicable local government law.
20. Principles of delimitation.—(1) All constituencies for general seats shall, as far as
practicable, be delimited having regard to the distribution of population in geographically compact
areas, physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facilities of communication and
public convenience and other cognate factors to ensure homogeneity in the creation of constituencies.
(2) 1[* * * * * * *]
2
[(2A). For the purpose of delimiting constituencies, for the general seats of the Provincial
Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Tribal Areas two or more separate areas may be grouped into
one constituency for their elections to be held in 2019 and Bye-elections related thereto and thereafter
this sub-section shall stand omitted.]
1
Omitted and subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 6-8.
2
Ins. by Act No. IV of 2019, by s.2.
Page 23 of 122
(3) As far as possible, variation in population of constituencies of an Assembly or a local
government shall not ordinarily exceed ten percent 1[:]
1
[Provided that for this purpose, it shall not be necessary to strictly adhere to the existing district
boundaries in exceptional cases.]
(4) If the limit of ten percent under sub-section (3) is exceeded in an exceptional case, the
Commission shall record reasons thereof in the delimitation order.
21. Reports of Commission and list of constituencies.— (1) For the purpose of delimiting
constituencies, the Commission may receive and consider representations, hold inquiries, summon
witnesses and record evidence, and shall prepare and publish in the official Gazette a preliminary
report and list of constituencies specifying the areas proposed to be included in each constituency.
(2) The Commission shall invite representations in respect of the preliminary report within a
period of thirty days from the date of publication.
(3) A voter in a constituency may, within the period specified in sub-section (2), make a
representation to the Commission in respect of the delimitation of that constituency proposed in the
preliminary report.
(4) The Commission shall, after hearing and considering the representations, if any, received
by it, make such amendments, alterations or modifications in the preliminary list of constituencies
published under sub-section (1) as it thinks fit or necessary, and shall, within a period of thirty days
from the last date fixed for making representation under sub-section (2), publish in the official Gazette
and on its website, the final report and list of constituencies showing the areas included in each
constituency.
22. Power of Commission to make amendment, alteration or modification in the final list
of constituencies.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Commission may, at any
time but at least four months before notification of the Election Programme, of its own motion and for
reasons to be recorded, make such amendments, alterations or modifications in the final list of
constituencies published under sub-section (4) of section 21 or in the areas included in a constituency,
as it deems necessary.
(2) The Commission shall publish in the official Gazette and on its website the proposed
amendments, alterations or modifications with their justifications and invite and hear representations
in respect thereof before taking final decision thereon.
CHAPTER IV
ELECTORAL ROLLS
23. Preparation and computerization of electoral rolls.— (1) The Commission shall prepare
the electoral rolls for election to the National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies and local governments
and shall revise such rolls periodically in the prescribed manner.
1
Subs. and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 8.
Page 24 of 122
(2) The Commission shall make arrangements for the computerization of the electoral rolls in
such manner as it may determine and any printout from the database maintained by or with the
authority of the Commission, shall be deemed to be an electoral roll published under this Act.
24. Appointment of Registration Officers.— (1) The Commission shall appoint a
Registration Officer for an electoral area or group of electoral areas for the purpose of preparation,
revision, correction and amendment of the electoral rolls and may, for that purpose, appoint as many
Assistant Registration Officers as may be necessary.
(2) Subject to such prior permission or instructions as may be given in this behalf by the
Commission—
(a) an Assistant Registration Officer may, under the control of the
Registration Officer, perform the functions of a Registration Officer;
and
(b) a Registration Officer may require any official to assist him in the
performance of his functions.
25. National Database and Registration Authority to transmit data.— (1) In such manner
as may be prescribed, the National Database and Registration Authority shall transmit relevant data of
every fresh National Identity Card issued by it to the Commission for registration of the card-holder
as a voter in the electoral roll of the electoral area in which his permanent or temporary address is
located, in accordance with the option indicated by him in the application for issuance of the National
Identity Card.
(2) The Authority shall also transmit to the Commission relevant data of every cancelled or
modified National Identity Card, information regarding deceased voters and such other details as may
be required by the Commission for the purposes of this Act.
(3) The Commission shall forward the data referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) to the
Registration Officer concerned who shall take steps for enrolment or, as the case may be, correction
in the relevant electoral roll in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
Explanation.— Fresh National Identity Card includes any card that has not been earlier made
part of the electoral roll database due to any reason whatsoever.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 28 of the National Database and Registration
Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000), any authority to whom an application for registration is to
be made under the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000) shall,
on the request of Registration Officer, furnish him such information including extracts from the said
application as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.
26. Preparation of preliminary electoral rolls.—(1) Subject to the superintendence,
directions and control of the Commission, the Registration Officer shall prepare the electoral rolls by
including in the electoral rolls, the name of every person entitled to be enrolled as a voter in an electoral
area under this Act.
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(2) A person shall be entitled to be enrolled as a voter in an electoral area if he—
(a) is a citizen of Pakistan;
(b) is not less than eighteen years of age;
(c) possesses a National Identity Card issued by the National Database and
Registration Authority at any time till the last day fixed for inviting
claims, objections and applications for preparation, revision or
correction of electoral rolls;
(d) is not declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind; and
(e) is or is deemed under section 27 to be resident in the electoral area.
Explanation.—The National Identity Card issued by the National Database and Registration
Authority shall be deemed to be valid for the purpose of registration as a voter or for casting vote in
an election, notwithstanding the expiry of its validity period.
27. Place of residence.—(1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall be
deemed to be resident in an electoral area if his temporary or permanent address in the National Identity
Card issued by the National Database and Registration Authority lies in the said electoral area.
(2) A person who is in the service of Pakistan may apply to the Registration Officer for
enrolment in the electoral area in which he temporarily resides for being in the service of Pakistan.
(3) The spouse and children of the person in the service of Pakistan may apply to the
Registration Officer for enrolment in the electoral area in which such person is enrolled under
sub-section (2).
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section or any other provision of this Chapter,
the registration of a voter at an address other than the permanent or temporary address mentioned in
his National Identity Card shall remain valid till he applies for transfer of his vote or for modification
or renewal of his National Identity Card in which case his vote shall be registered according to the
temporary or permanent address mentioned in the National Identity Card:
Provided that this sub-section (4) including this proviso shall stand omitted on 31st December,
2018.
28. Preliminary publication.—The preliminary electoral rolls prepared under section 26,
together with a notice inviting claims, objections and applications for corrections, if any, with respect
thereto, shall be published and displayed by the Registration Officer for a period of not less than thirty
days, in such manner and form as may be prescribed.
29. Appointment of Revising Authorities.—The Commission shall appoint a Revising
Authority for any electoral area or group of electoral areas, for the purpose of receiving and deciding
claims, objections and applications for correction of the preliminary electoral rolls.
Page 26 of 122
30. Period for lodging claims and objections.—(1) Any person may file an application for
inclusion of a name in the electoral roll, or an objection to, or application for correction of, any entry
in the preliminary electoral rolls before the Revising Authority on the prescribed form within a period
of thirty days or more, as may be determined by the Commission, next following the date of the
publication of the preliminary electoral rolls under section 28.
(2) The Revising Authority shall reject any claim or objection or application for correction or
transfer if it is not made within the period specified in sub-section (1) or is not made in the prescribed
manner.
31. Transfer of name from one electoral area to another.— A person may apply for transfer
of his name from the electoral roll of one electoral area to the electoral roll of another electoral area
with the appropriate Revising Authority if it is preferred before the final publication of the electoral
roll under section 35, or, if it is filed after such final publication, with the appropriate Registration
Officer under section 37 by filing an application in the prescribed form for the inclusion of his name
in the electoral roll of an electoral area where he is resident and wishes to enroll himself as voter with
the request to delete his name from the electoral roll in which his name is currently enrolled.
32. Application by the Registration Officer for inclusion of name.—The Registration
Officer may, within the period mentioned in section 30, apply to the Revising Authority—
(a) for the inclusion in the electoral roll of the name of any person left out
due to inadvertence or the absence of timely information while preparing
the preliminary electoral rolls; or
(b) for the exclusion of any name from the electoral roll or any correction
of clerical, printing or other error which he is himself authorized to make
under section 34.
33. Enquiry into claims and objections.—(1) Except where a claim or objection or an
application for correction is rejected under section 30 or is decided without further enquiry being valid
prima facie, the Revising Authority shall give its decision after holding a summary enquiry into each
claim, objection or application, after giving notice to the parties concerned.
(2) The decision of the Revising Authority under sub-section (1) shall be final and shall be
communicated to the appropriate Registration Officer.
34. Correction of electoral rolls.—The Registration Officer—
(a) shall correct the electoral roll in accordance with the decision of the
Revising Authority under section 33; and
(b) may further correct any clerical, printing or other error subsequently
discovered in the roll but not so as to include in it or exclude from it,
the name of any voter.
35. Final publication.—After making additions, deletions, modifications or corrections, if
any, under section 34, the Registration Officer shall publish, in the prescribed manner and form, the
final electoral roll for each electoral area.
Page 27 of 122
36. Periodical revision of electoral roll.—(1) The Registration Officer shall periodically
revise an electoral roll as may be determined by the Commission in the prescribed manner and form—
(a) so as to include the name of any qualified person whose name does not
appear in such roll; or
(b) so as to delete the name of any person who has died or who is or has
become disqualified for enrolment; or
(c) for correcting any entry or for supplying any omission in such roll.
(2) An electoral roll for any electoral area which is not revised for any reason, shall continue
to remain valid and operational.
(3) While revising the electoral rolls under sub-section (1), the procedure laid down in sections
24 to 35 shall, with necessary changes, apply to revision of the electoral rolls.
37. Enrolment and correction other than periodical revision.— Subject to section 39—
(a) any person whose name is not included in an electoral roll and who
claims that he was or is entitled to be enrolled on that roll, may apply to
the appropriate Registration Officer, on the prescribed form along with
a copy of the National Identity Card issued to him under the National
Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000) for
the inclusion of his name in the electoral rolls, and if the Registration
Officer is satisfied after giving notice or making such enquiry as he may
deem necessary, that the applicant was or is entitled to have his name so
enrolled, he shall insert the name of such person in the database of the
electoral roll and shall also make necessary entry in the master copy of
the electoral roll maintained by him;
(b) any person may apply to the Registration Officer for the correction of
any entry in an electoral roll—
(i) if the entry relates to the applicant and the Registration Officer
is satisfied after giving such notice and making such enquiry as
he may consider necessary that the entry relates to the applicant
and is erroneous or defective in any particular, he shall correct
the electoral roll accordingly and shall also make necessary
correction in the relevant database;
(ii) if the entry does not relate to the applicant and the Registration
Officer is satisfied after giving notice to the person to whom the
entry relates and after making such enquiry, as he may consider
necessary that such person is dead or is otherwise not entitled to
be enrolled as a voter, he shall correct the electoral roll
accordingly and shall also make necessary correction in the
relevant database;
(iii) if the person to whom the entry relates appears in response to the
notice and gives his option, on the basis of his temporary or
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permanent address as mentioned in the National Identity Card,
for enrolment in the electoral roll of another electoral area of the
same district, the Registration Officer shall correct the electoral
roll accordingly and if such option requires such person‘s
enrolment in the electoral roll of an electoral area of another
district, he shall refer the matter to the Registration Officer
concerned for the needful to be done, after necessary
verification, for enrolment of such person as voter in the relevant
electoral roll of that district under intimation to the Commission;
and
(iv) if the person does not appear in response to the notice and the
entry objected to is required to be transferred to the electoral roll
of another electoral area within the district, the Registration
Officer shall correct the electoral roll accordingly and if such
entry relates to another district shall refer the matter to the
Registration Officer concerned with request to enroll such
person, after necessary verification, in the electoral roll of that
district at his permanent address mentioned in his National
Identity Card under intimation to the Commission;
(c) if a person applies for transfer of vote from the electoral roll of an
electoral area to the electoral roll of another electoral area of the same
district, the Registration Officer of that district shall, after making such
enquiry as he may consider necessary, strike off the name of the
applicant from the master copy of the electoral roll in which his name
presently exists and include his name in the master copy of the electoral
roll of the other electoral area and shall make necessary changes in the
database of the electoral rolls accordingly;
(d) if a person applies for transfer of vote from the electoral roll of an
electoral area of a district to the electoral roll of an electoral area of the
other district, the Registration Officer of the district to which transfer of
vote is sought, shall, after making such enquiry as he may consider
necessary, include the name of the applicant in the master copy of the
electoral roll of the electoral area requested, make necessary changes in
the database of the electoral rolls accordingly and inform the
Registration Officer of the district from which transfer of vote is sought
and the latter shall strike off the name of the applicant from the master
copy of the roll being maintained by him;
(e) where the Registration Officer rejects application made under this
section, he shall record brief reasons of his decision; and
(f) a person aggrieved by the order of the Registration Officer made under
this section may, within thirty days of such order, appeal to the Appellate
Authority to be appointed by the Commission and the decision of such
Appellate Authority shall be final.
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38. Preparation of rolls afresh.— If the Commission considers it necessary, on account of
any gross error or irregularity in or in the preparation of an electoral roll for any electoral area or a part
of an electoral area or other cogent reasons including changes in the limits of that electoral area or
large scale displacement of population due to a natural calamity, it may, for reasons to be recorded, by
order direct that the roll for such electoral area or part of electoral area shall stand cancelled and that
afresh electoral roll for that electoral area or part of electoral area be prepared in accordance with the
provisions of this Act.
39. No revision, correction or transfer after constituency called upon to elect.— (1) No
revision of or correction in an electoral roll of an electoral area or inclusion or transfer of a vote from
the electoral roll of an electoral area to the electoral roll of another electoral area shall be made nor
shall any order under section 38 be made in respect of any electoral roll during the period beginning
thirty days before the day on which the term of an Assembly or a local government is due to expire
(hereinafter referred to as ‘the cut-off date’) till announcement of the results of the general election to
the Assembly or the local government but it shall not apply to an election to fill a casual vacancy in an
Assembly or a local government.
(2) In case of an election to fill a casual vacancy to an Assembly or a local government, no
revision of or correction in an electoral roll of an electoral area or inclusion or transfer of a vote from
the electoral roll of an electoral area to the electoral roll of another electoral area shall be made nor
shall any order under section 38 be made in respect of any electoral roll at any time after the
constituency of which such electoral area forms part has been called upon to elect its representative
and before such representative has been elected.
(3) The Commission shall, through press release and its website, inform the general public
about the cut-off date for revision of or correction in an electoral roll of an electoral area or inclusion
or transfer of a vote from the electoral roll of an electoral area to the electoral roll of another electoral
area.
40. Power of the Commission to modify electoral roll.— (1) Subject to section 39, the
Commission may, at any time, order—
(a) the inclusion in an electoral roll of the name of any person entitled to be
enrolled on such electoral roll, and such name shall, from the date of
such order, form part of the electoral roll;
(b) the exclusion from an electoral roll of the name of any person who has
died or has become disqualified to be a voter, and such name shall, from
the date of such order, stand excluded from that roll; and
(c) the removal of the name of any person from an electoral roll where such
removal becomes necessary due to the repetition of the name in the same
electoral roll or in the electoral rolls of more than one electoral area.
(2) Before taking decision under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1), the Commission
shall afford a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the person likely to be affected and shall record
reasons for its decision.
Page 30 of 122
41. Maintenance of electoral rolls.— (1) An electoral roll as revised and corrected shall be
maintained by the Registration Officer in the prescribed manner and shall be kept open to public
inspection; and any person, on payment of prescribed fee, may obtain copies of the electoral roll.
(2) A candidate or an election agent may obtain a hard and searchable soft copy of the final
electoral roll with photographs of the voters in accordance with section 79.
42. Duration of the electoral rolls.— The electoral roll for any electoral area prepared under
this Act shall come into force immediately upon its final publication and shall remain in force until
revised.
43. Information regarding deaths.— On the direction of the Commission, the person in
charge of any register of births and deaths in a local government or other authority shall submit relevant
information regarding deceased persons from that register on prescribed form to the Registration
Officer concerned on quarterly basis, who shall make necessary corrections in the electoral rolls
accordingly.
44. Sharing of information with National Database and Registration Authority.— The
Registration Officer shall, through the Commission, communicate to the National Database and
Registration Authority any change of address of the voter as a result of transfer of his vote under
section 34, section 37 or section 40 and any information received under section 43 for necessary entries
in the record of the National Database and Registration Authority.
45. Enrolment only once.— A person shall not be enrolled—
(a) on the electoral roll for any electoral area more than once; or
(b) on the electoral rolls for more than one electoral area.
46. Validity of electoral rolls not affected by any mistake.— An electoral roll shall not be
invalid by reason of any mis-description of a person enrolled thereon or of omission of the name of
any person entitled to be so enrolled or of inclusion of the name of any person not so entitled.
47. Special measures for enrolment of women voters.— (1) The Commission shall annually
publish disaggregated data of registered men and women voters in each National Assembly and
Provincial Assembly constituency highlighting the difference in number of registered men and women
voters.
(2) Where the variation in the disaggregated data under sub-section (1) is more than ten percent
in a constituency, the Commission shall take special measures to reduce such variation.
(3) The measures referred to in sub-section (2) shall include action to expedite the issuance of
National Identity Cards for women of such constituency by National Database and Registration
Authority and for their enrolment as voters in the relevant electoral rolls by the Commission.
48. Enrolment of non-Muslims etc.— (1) The Commission shall take special measures for
registration of non-Muslims, persons with disabilities and transgender citizens in the electoral rolls as
voters.
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(2) The measures under sub-section (1) shall include coordinated action with the National
Database and Registration Authority to expedite the issuance of National Identity Cards for non-
Muslims, persons with disabilities and transgender citizens.
(3) No activity undertaken in connection with an election by the Commission or National
Database and Registration Authority, as the case may be, shall be delayed, postponed or otherwise
affected in any manner whatsoever merely on the ground of any measure being taken under this section
or section 47.
1[48A.Status of Ahmadis etc. to remain unchanged.—(1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force including Rules or forms prescribed
thereunder, the status of Quadiani Group or the Lahori Group (who call themselves ‘Ahmadis’ or by
any other name) or a person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the
Prophet-hood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last of the prophets or claimed or claims to be
a Prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever, after Muhammad (peace be upon
him) or recognizes such a claimant as a Prophet or religious reformer shall remain the same as provided
in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.
(2) If a person has got himself enrolled as voter and objection is filed before the Revising
Authority notified under this Act that such a voter is not a Muslim, the Revising Authority shall issue
a notice to him to appear before it within fifteen days and require him to sign a declaration reproduced
below regarding his belief about the absolute and unqualified finality of the prophethood of
Muhammad (peace be upon him). In case he refuses to sign the declaration as aforesaid, he shall be
deemed to be a non-Muslim and his name shall be deleted from the joint electoral rolls and added to a
supplementary list of voters in the same electoral area as non-Muslim. In case the voter does not turn
up in spite of service of notice, an ex-parte order may be passed against him.
Declaration and oath:
1, ______________________ (name of the voter), do solemnly swear that I believe in the
absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the last of
the prophets and I am not the follower of anyone who claims to be a Prophet in any sense of the word
or of any description whatsoever after prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and that I do not
recognize such a claimant to be prophet or a religious reformer, nor do I belong to the Qadiani group
or the Lahori group or call myself an Ahmadi.
(Name and Signature of the Voter)
[
1
Ins. by Act No. XXXVII of 2017, s. 2.
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49. Departure from normal procedure in exceptional circumstances.— (1)Where the
Commission is satisfied that it is not possible to follow the procedure laid down for the preparation or
revision of an electoral roll in respect of any electoral area, the Commission may, after recording the
exceptional circumstances necessitating deviation from the laid down procedure, direct that an
electoral roll for such electoral area shall be prepared in such manner as it deems fit.
(2) The Commission shall immediately publish the direction issued under sub-section (1) on
its website.
CHAPTER V
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS TO THE ASSEMBLIES
50. Appointment of District Returning Officer.— (1) For election to an Assembly, the
Commission shall, in the prescribed manner, appoint a District Returning Officer for each district or a
specified area—
(a) from amongst its own officers subject to availability;
(b) by selection from a list of officers provided by the Government or a
Provincial Government; or
(c) from the subordinate judiciary in consultation with the Chief Justice of
the concerned High Court.
(2) Subject to the superintendence, directions and control of the Commission, the District
Returning Officer shall coordinate and supervise all work in the district in connection with the conduct
of an election and shall also perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the
Commission.
51. Appointment of Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers.— (1) The
Commission shall, in the prescribed manner, appoint, from amongst its own officers or officers of any
Government or corporations, autonomous or semi-autonomous bodies controlled by any Government,
or from the subordinate judiciary in consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court,
a Returning Officer for each constituency.
(2) A person shall not be appointed as Returning Officer for more than one constituency, save
in exceptional circumstances, for reasons to be recorded.
(3) The Commission may, in the prescribed manner, appoint, from amongst its own officers or
officers of any Government, or corporations, autonomous or semi-autonomous bodies controlled by
any Government, as many Assistant Returning Officers as may be necessary.
52. Dates of appointments.— The Commission shall make appointments under sections 50
and 51 at least sixty days prior to the issuance of Election Programme save for bye-elections or in
exceptional circumstances for reasons to be recorded, in which cases the Commission shall make the
appointments simultaneously with the issuance of the Election Programme.
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53. Presiding Officers and Polling Officers.— (1) A Returning Officer shall, in the prescribed
manner, appoint for each polling station a Presiding Officer and such number of Assistant Presiding
Officers and Polling Officers from amongst the officers of any Government or corporations,
autonomous or semi-autonomous bodies controlled by any Government to assist the Presiding Officer
as the Returning Officer may consider necessary.
(2) The Returning Officer shall not appoint a person as a Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding
Officer or Polling Officer who is or has, at any time, been in the employment of a candidate.
(3) The Returning Officer shall, at least thirty days before the polling day, submit to the District
Returning Officer for approval a list of such Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and
Polling Officers including reserved staff as may be determined by the Commission, and no change in
the list shall be made thereafter save in exceptional circumstances, for reasons to be recorded, and with
the approval of the Commission.
(4) In case of non-availability of any member of polling staff, the Returning Officer shall
appoint a substitute from amongst the reserved staff as approved by the District Returning Officer.
54. Duties of election officials.— (1) A Returning Officer shall do all such acts and things as
may be necessary for effective conduct of the poll in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the
Rules and directions of the Commission.
(2) An Assistant Returning Officer shall assist the Returning Officer in the performance of his
functions under this Act and may, subject to any condition imposed by the Commission and the control
of the Returning Officer, exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Returning Officer.
(3) A Presiding Officer shall conduct the poll in accordance with the provisions of this Act and
the Rules and shall be responsible for maintaining order at the polling station and shall report to the
Returning Officer any fact or incident which may affect the conduct or fairness of the poll.
(4) During the course of the poll, the Presiding Officer may entrust any of his functions to an
Assistant Presiding Officer and the Assistant Presiding Officer shall perform the functions so entrusted
to him.
(5) The Returning Officer shall authorize one of the Assistant Presiding Officers to act in place
of the Presiding Officer if the Presiding Officer is, at any time during the poll, by reason of illness or
other cause, not present at the polling station, or is unable to perform his functions.
(6) The Returning Officer may, at any time during the poll, for reasons to be recorded, suspend
any Presiding Officer, Assistant Presiding Officer or Polling Officer, and make such alternate
arrangements as he may consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the officer so
suspended, whose matter shall be referred to the Commission for initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
55. Disciplinary proceedings.— (1) An election official appointed or deputed to perform
duties in connection with an election shall be deemed to be under the control, superintendence and
Page 34 of 122
discipline of the Commission for the period commencing on and from the date of appointment or
deputation till publication of the name of the returned candidate in the official Gazette.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, the Commission may
initiate and finalize disciplinary action and impose any penalty against any election official for any act
of misconduct provided in the Efficiency and Discipline Rules as applicable to such election official
or under any provision of misconduct under this Act, and for this purpose, the Commission shall be
deemed to be the Competent Authority under the said Efficiency and Discipline Rules or this Act.
(3) The Commission may, at any time, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suspend or
withdraw any election official, a public servant or any other person in the service of Pakistan who—
(a) obstructs, or prevents, or attempts to obstruct or prevent, the conduct of
a fair and impartial poll; or
(b) interferes or attempts to interfere with a voter when he casts his vote; or
(c) influences or attempts to influence in any manner the polling staff or a
voter; or
(d) does any other act calculated to influence the result of the election; or
(e) disobeys any order, or avoids to carry out any instruction issued by the
Commission or any officer authorized to issue any order or instruction
or violates any provision of this Act.
1
[(4) The Commission may appoint Enquiry Officers or Enquiry Committee to initiate and
finalize proceedings under the efficiency and discipline rules applicable to the election officials
concerned against whom action has been taken by the Commission under sub-section (3) or other
provisions of this Act or by the Returning Officer under sub-section (6) of section 54.]
(5) The Enquiry Officer or Authorized Officer shall complete enquiry proceedings under the
Efficiency and Discipline Rules as applicable to the election official concerned or under this Act within
thirty days of the reference to him and shall submit the enquiry report to the Commission within seven
days of the completion of the enquiry.
(6) The Commission may impose any penalty provided in the Efficiency and Discipline Rules
as applicable to the election official concerned or any penalty provided under this Act.
(7) An election official aggrieved by a final order passed by the Commission may, within thirty
days of receipt of the final order, file an appeal in the relevant Service Tribunal or other judicial forum.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 9.
Page 35 of 122
(8) Where the Commission suspends or withdraws any election official, it may appoint any
other election official to perform the duty of the election official suspended or withdrawn.
1
[(9) Apart from disciplinary proceedings, the Commission may also initiate criminal
proceedings under section 188 read with section 184 against the concerned election officials, public
servants or other persons in service of Pakistan mentioned in sub-section (3).]
56. Oath by election officials.— An election official shall, before the commencement of his
election duty, make an oath, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, that he shall act strictly
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, Rules and directions of the Commission.
57. Notification of Election Programed.— 2[(1) Subject to the Constitution, the Commission
shall by notification in the official Gazette announce the date or dates, as the case may be, of the
general elections.]
(2) Within seven days of the announcement under sub-section (1), the Commission shall, by
notification in the official Gazette and by publication on its website, call upon the voters of the notified
Assembly constituencies to elect their representatives in accordance with an Election Programme,
which shall stipulate—
(a) the last date for making nominations, which shall be the sixth day after
the date of publication of the notification or, if that day is a public
holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(b) the last date for publication of names of the nominated candidates, which
shall be day following the last date of filing of nomination papers;
(c) the last date for the scrutiny of nominations, which shall be the eighth
day immediately following the last date for making nominations or, if
that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public
holiday;
(d) the last date for filing of appeals against acceptance or rejection of
nominations, which shall be the fourth day following the last date for the
scrutiny of nominations or, if that day is a public holiday, the next
succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(e) the last date for decision of appeals, which shall be the seventh day
following the last date for filing of appeals or, if that day is a public
holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(f) the last date for publication of the revised list of candidates, which shall
be the day following the last date for decision of appeals;
1
Added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 9.
2
Subs. by Act No. XXXV of 2023, s.2.
Page 36 of 122
(g) the last date for the withdrawal of candidature, which shall be the day
following the last date of publication of revised list of candidates or, if
that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public
holiday;
(h) the date for allocation of symbols to contesting candidates and
publication of list of contesting candidates, which shall be the day
following the last date for withdrawal of candidature or, if that day is a
public holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
and
(i) the date or dates on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken, which or
the first of which shall be a date not earlier than the twenty eighth day
after the publication of the revised list of candidates.
(3) A Returning Officer shall 1[* * *] give public notice of the dates specified by the
Commission in respect of the constituency or constituencies of which he is the Returning Officer; and
shall publish the public notice at some prominent place or places within the constituency to which it
relates.
(4) A Returning Officer shall, by the public notice given under sub-section (3), invite
nominations specifying the time by which and the place at which nomination papers shall be received
by him.
58. Alteration in Election Programme.— 2[(1) Subject to the Constitution, Notwithstanding
anything contained in section 57, the Commission may, at any time after the issuance of the notification
under sub-section (1) of that section, make such alterations in the election programme announced in
that notification for different stages of the election or may issue a fresh election programme with fresh
poll date or dates as may, in its opinion to be recorded in writing, be necessary for the purposes of this
Act.]
(2) Save as otherwise provided by law, if a candidate has already submitted his nomination
papers before the notification under sub-section (1), he shall not be required to again submit his
nomination papers under the fresh Election Programme.
59. Polling stations. — (1) Within one week after appointment of Returning Officers, the
Commission shall provide, in the prescribed format, a list of proposed polling stations for each
constituency to the Returning Officer of that constituency indicating the electoral areas assigned to
each polling station and publish the list on its website.
(2) The Commission shall, as far as practicable, retain the polling stations established for the
preceding election but it may add to or alter the list as may be required to reduce the distance preferably
to one kilometer between a polling station and the voters assigned to it.
(3) As far as practicable, not more than twelve hundred voters shall be assigned to a polling
station and not more than three hundred voters shall be assigned to a polling booth, and reasons for
any deviation shall be recorded in writing.
1
Omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 10.
2
Subs. by Act No. XXXV of 2023, s. 3.
Page 37 of 122
(4) Within fifteen days of the receipt of the list of polling stations, the Returning Officer—
(a) shall personally verify the proposed polling stations;
(b) may add to or alter the list as he may deem necessary; and
(c) shall publish outside his office the preliminary list of polling stations,
inviting objections and suggestions, if any, to be filed within twenty-one
days of its publication.
1
[(5) Objections and suggestions may be filed with the District Returning Officer__
(a) by a candidate, with regard to any polling station in his constituency; and
(b) by a voter, with regard only to the polling station to which he has been assigned.]
(6) The District Returning Officer may, after hearing the objections or considering the
suggestions, if any filed with him and making such summary enquiry as he may deem necessary, make
alterations in the list of polling stations as may be required and shall, at least thirty days before the
polling day, publish in the official Gazette and on the website of the Commission the final list of
polling stations of each constituency in the district.
(7) The Commission shall determine the date or dates required for completion of the actions
mentioned in this section.
(8) The District Returning Officer shall not make any change in the final list of polling stations
published in the official Gazette, save in very exceptional circumstances, for reasons to be recorded,
with the prior approval of the Commission 1[not later than five days before polling and a copy of such
change shall be transmitted to the candidates immediately without loss of any time] and after notice to
the candidates.
(9) The Returning Officer shall establish in each constituency polling stations according to the
final list published under sub-section (6).
(10) A polling station shall be situated in any Government building in the constituency and,
where no Government building is available, a polling station may be established in a building owned
by a private educational institution registered with the concerned education authorities or an
improvised polling station shall be set up on a public property.
(11) A polling station shall not be located in any premises which belongs to or is under the
direct or indirect control of a candidate 1[or a political party].
(12) While finalizing the list of polling stations of a constituency, if the District Returning
Officer declares a polling station as highly sensitive, the Commission may, in addition to appropriate
security measures as may be taken, install or direct any Government to install a surveillance camera
in each polling booth of such polling station to record poll proceedings, counting of vote process and
preparation of results by the Presiding Officer.
1
Subs. and ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 11.
Page 38 of 122
60. Nomination for election.— (1) Any voter of a constituency, may propose or second the
name of any qualified person to be a candidate for Member for that constituency:
Provided that no voter shall subscribe to more than one nomination papers either as proposer
or seconder.
(2) Every nomination shall be made by a separate nomination paper on Form A signed both by
the proposer and the seconder and shall, on solemn affirmation made and signed by the candidate, be
accompanied by—
(a) a declaration that he has consented to the nomination and that he fulfils
the qualifications specified in Article 62 and is not subject to any of the
disqualifications specified in Article 63 for being elected as a Member;
1
[(b) a declaration that before the date fixed for scrutiny of nomination papers
he will open an exclusive account, or dedicate an existing account, with
a scheduled bank for the purpose of election expenses, and has attached
statement of the said bank account with the nomination paper, starting
with entries of seven days prior to the election schedule;]
(c) an attested copy of his National Identity Card; and
(d) a statement of his assets and liabilities and of his spouse and dependent
children as on the preceding thirtieth day of June on Form B.
(3) Every nomination paper shall be delivered to the Returning Officer by the candidate or his
proposer or seconder or if so, authorized in writing by the candidate, by his nominee and the Returning
Officer shall acknowledge receipt of the nomination paper specifying the date and time of receipt.
Explanation.— Authorization in favour of an advocate shall be attested by a Notary appointed
under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 (XIX of 1961) or an Oath Commissioner appointed under the Oaths
Act, 1873 (X of 1873) or any Government servant in basic pay scale 17 and above.
(4) A person may be nominated in the same constituency by not more than five nomination
papers.
(5) The Returning Officer shall assign a serial number to every nomination paper and endorse
on the nomination paper the name of the person presenting it, and the date and time of its receipt, and
inform such person of the time and place at which he shall hold scrutiny.
(6) The Returning Officer shall cause to be affixed at a conspicuous place in his office a notice
of every nomination paper received by him containing the particulars of the candidate as shown in the
nomination paper.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 12.
Page 39 of 122
(7) The Returning Officer shall—
(a) make the nomination papers along with annexures open to inspection by
the public; and
(b) issue certified copies of these documents in such manner and on
payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
61. Deposits.— (1) Subject to sub-section (2), the Returning Officer shall not accept a
nomination paper unless a sum of thirty thousand rupees for election to a seat in the National Assembly
and twenty thousand rupees for election to a seat in the Provincial Assembly is deposited by the
candidate or by any person on his behalf—
(a) in cash with the Returning Officer; or
(b) through bank draft drawn in favour of the Returning Officer; or
(c) in cash in a specified account with any branch of the National Bank of
Pakistan, receipt of which should be produced before the Returning
Officer.
(2) Not more than one deposit under sub-section (1) shall be required in the case of a person
who has been nominated as a candidate by more than one nomination paper.
1
[(3) The sum deposited shall be non-refundable.]
(4) 1[* * * * * * *]
(5) 1[* * * * * * *]
62. Scrutiny.— (1) Any voter of a constituency may file objections to the candidature of a
candidate of that constituency who has been nominated or whose name has been included in the party
list submitted by a political party for election to an Assembly before the Returning Officer within the
period specified by the Commission for the scrutiny of nomination papers of candidates contesting
election to an Assembly.
(2) The candidates, their election agents, the proposers and seconders and one other person
authorized in this behalf by each candidate, and a voter who has filed an objection under sub-section
(1), may attend the scrutiny of nomination papers, and the Returning Officer shall give them reasonable
opportunity for examining all the nomination papers delivered to him under section 60.
(3) A voter who has filed an objection to the candidature of a candidate shall only attend the
scrutiny of the nomination paper of that candidate.
1
Subs. and omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 13.
Page 40 of 122
(4) The Returning Officer shall, in the presence of the persons attending the scrutiny, examine
the nomination papers and decide any objection raised by any such person to any candidature.
(5) The Returning Officer may, for the purpose of scrutiny, require any, authority or
organization, including a financial institution, to produce any document or record or to furnish any
information as may be necessary to determine facts relating to an objection to the candidature of a
candidate.
(6) The Returning Officer shall not enquire into the correctness or validity of any entry in the
electoral roll.
(7) The Returning Officer while scrutinizing nomination paper of a candidate, shall not ask any
question which—
(a) has no nexus with the information supplied in the nomination paper; or
(b) has not arisen from the objections raised by any person or from
information received by him under this section.
(8) The declaration submitted under sub-section (2) of section 60 shall only be questioned by
the Returning Officer if there is tangible material to the contrary available on record.
(9) Subject to this section, the Returning Officer may, on either of his own motion or upon an
objection, conduct a summary enquiry and may reject a nomination paper if he is satisfied that—
(a) the candidate is not qualified to be elected as a Member;
(b) the proposer or the seconder is not qualified to subscribe to the
nomination paper;
(c) any provision of section 60 or section 61 has not been complied with or
the candidate has submitted a declaration or statement which is false or
incorrect in any material particular; or
(d) the signature of the proposer or the seconder is not genuine:
Provided that—
(i) the rejection of a nomination paper shall not invalidate the
nomination of a candidate by any other valid nomination paper;
or
(ii) the Returning Officer shall not reject a nomination paper on the
ground of any defect which is not of a substantial nature and may
allow any such defect to be remedied forthwith, including an
error in regard to the name, serial number in the electoral roll or
other particulars of the candidate or his proposer or seconder so
as to bring them in conformity with the corresponding entries in
the electoral roll.
Page 41 of 122
(10) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (9), where a candidate deposits any
amount of loan, tax or government dues and utility expenses payable by him of which he is unaware
at the time of filing of his nomination paper, such nomination paper shall not be rejected on the ground
of default in payment of such loan, taxes or government dues and utility expenses.
(11) The Returning Officer shall endorse on each nomination paper his decision accepting or
rejecting it and shall, in the case of rejection or objection to acceptance, record brief reasons for his
decision.
63. Appeal against scrutiny order.—(1) A candidate or the objector may, within the time
specified by the Commission, file an appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer rejecting or
accepting a nomination paper to an Appellate Tribunal constituted for the constituency consisting of a
person who is a Judge of a High Court appointed by the Commission in consultation with the Chief
Justice of the High Court concerned:
Provided that where the number of appeals so necessitate, the Commission may appoint a
person as Tribunal who has been a judge of a High Court in consultation with the Chief Justice of the
High Court concerned.
(2) An Appellate Tribunal shall summarily decide an appeal filed under sub-section (1) within
such time as may be notified by the Commission and any order passed on the appeal shall be final.
(3) If the Appellate Tribunal is not able to decide the appeal within the time fixed by the
Commission under sub-section (2), the appeal shall abate and decision of the Returning Officer shall
be final.
(4) If, on the basis of information or material coming to its knowledge by any source, an
Appellate Tribunal is of the opinion that a candidate whose nomination paper has been accepted is a
defaulter of loans, taxes, government dues and utility expenses or has had any loan written off or has
willfully concealed such fact or suffers from any other disqualification from being elected as a Member
of an Assembly, it may, on its own motion, call upon such candidate to show cause why his nomination
papers may not be rejected, and if the Appellate Tribunal is satisfied that the candidate is actually a
defaulter or has had a loan written off or suffers from any disqualification, it may reject the nomination
paper.
64. Publication of list of candidates.— (1) The Returning Officer shall, after the scrutiny of
nomination papers, prepare and display in the prescribed manner a list of validly nominated candidates.
(2) In case an appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer is accepted by the Appellate
Tribunal, the Returning Officer shall revise the list of validly nominated candidates accordingly.
(3) The Returning Officer shall, on the second day following the last date for decision of
appeals by the Appellate Tribunal, prepare and display in the prescribed manner the revised list of
validly nominated candidates.
65. Withdrawal.— (1) A validly nominated candidate may, by notice in writing signed by him
and delivered to the Returning Officer on or before the withdrawal date either by the candidate himself
or by an advocate authorized in writing by the candidate, withdraw his candidature.
Page 42 of 122
Explanation.—Authorization in favour of an advocate shall be attested by a Notary appointed
under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 (XIX of 1961) or an Oath Commissioner appointed under the Oaths
Act, 1873 (X of 1873) or a Government servant in basic pay scale 17 and above.
(2) A notice of withdrawal under sub-section (1) shall, in no circumstances, be open to recall
or cancellation.
(3) On receiving a notice of withdrawal under sub-section (1), the Returning Officer shall, if
he is satisfied that the signature on the notice is that of the candidate, cause a copy of the notice to be
affixed at a conspicuous place in his office.
66. Candidate to file certificate of party affiliation.— 1[Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Act or any other law for the time being in force or any judgment, decree or order of any court
including the Supreme Court and a High Court, a contesting] candidate, before seeking allotment of a
prescribed symbol, shall file a declaration before the Returning Officer about his affiliation with a
particular political party, if any, along with a certificate from the political party showing that he is that
party’s candidate from the constituency 1[:]
1
[Provided that if a candidate, before seeking allotment of a prescribed symbol, has not filed a
declaration before the Returning Officer about his affiliation with a particular political party by
submitting party certificate from the political party confirming that he is that party’s candidate, he shall
be deemed to be considered as an independent candidate and not a candidate of any political party.]
67. Contested election and allotment of symbols.—(1) If after withdrawal, if any, there are
more than one contesting candidates in the constituency, the Returning Officer shall allot, subject to
any direction of the Commission, one of the prescribed symbols to each contesting candidate.
(2) A candidate nominated by a political party at an election in any constituency shall be
allotted the symbol allocated by the Commission to that political party under the provisions of Chapter
XII and no other symbol.
(3) A candidate not nominated by any political party (hereinafter called as “independent
candidate”) shall choose and shall be allotted one of the symbols not allocated to any political party,
in the following manner—
(a) where a symbol has been chosen by only one independent candidate,
that symbol shall be allotted to that candidate and to no one else;
(b) if a symbol is chosen by more than one independent candidates and one
of them has previously been a Member of the National Assembly or a
Provincial Assembly, such symbol shall be allotted to that former
Member; and
1
Subs. and added by Act No. XV of 2024, s. 2.
Page 43 of 122
(c) if more than one independent candidates have given preference for the
same symbol, that symbol shall be allotted by drawing of lots.
(4) No symbol shall be allotted to any candidate other than the prescribed symbols.
(5) In every constituency where election is contested, different symbol shall be allotted to each
contesting candidate.
68. List of contesting candidates.— (1) The Returning Officer, after allotment of symbols to
contesting candidates, under section 67 shall—
(a) publish the names of the contesting candidates arranged in Urdu
alphabetical order specifying against each the symbol allotted to him; and
(b) give public notice of the day and hours of the poll.
(2) The Returning Officer shall supply a copy of list of contesting candidates to each candidate and
shall exhibit the list at a prominent place in each polling station on the day of poll.
1
[(3) The Returning Officer shall send a copy of the list of contesting candidates with their
respective symbols to the Commission which shall upload it for display on its website.]
69. One day poll.—(1) The Commission shall hold polls for a general election for an Assembly on
the same day and may simultaneously hold the polls for National Assembly seats and the Provincial
Assembly seats.
(2) If the Commission is satisfied that polls cannot take place in a constituency on account of a
natural calamity or for any other reason beyond its control, the Commission may fix another day for
holding the poll in that constituency.
70. Hours of the poll.—The Commission shall fix the hours, which shall not be less than eight,
during which the poll shall be held and the Returning Officer shall give public notice of the hours so fixed
and hold the poll according to the hours fixed by the Commission:
Provided that the Commission may extend polling hours already fixed at one or more polling
stations in exceptional circumstances to be recorded in writing but such decision shall be taken at least
three hours before the close of the poll enabling the Returning Officer to convey the decision of the
Commission to all Presiding Officers under his jurisdiction well before the time already fixed for close of
the poll.
71. Printing of ballot papers.— (1) The Commission shall, pursuant to the finalization of the list
of the polling stations, determine the constituency-wise requirement of ballot papers based on the formula
that the number of ballot papers per polling station shall be rounded off to the next hundred.
Explanation.― “Rounding off to the next hundred” means that if the total strength of voters at a
polling station is 1201 to 1299 the requirement of ballot papers for that polling station would be 1300.
(2) The Commission shall ensure that the total requirement of ballot papers for the general elections
are printed by the printing presses of the Printing Corporation of Pakistan or such other press which is
owned and operated by any authority under the control of the Federal or a Provincial Government as may
be notified by the Commission for the purpose.
(3) The Commission shall ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the security of the
presses during the printing of the ballot papers and for the safe custody of the printed ballot papers till
delivery to the Returning Officer.
1
Added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 14.
Page 44 of 122
(4) The Commission shall use special water-marked paper for printing of ballot papers.
72. Retirement from election.— (1) A contesting candidate may retire from the election by
notice in writing signed by him and delivered to the Returning Officer on any day not later than four
days before the polling day by the candidate himself or by an advocate authorized in writing by the
candidate.
Explanation.— Authorization in favour of an advocate shall be attested by a Notary appointed
under the Notaries Ordinance, 1961 (XIX of 1961) or an Oath Commissioner appointed under the
Oaths Act, 1873 (X of 1873) or a Government servant in basic pay scale 17 and above.
(2) If a contesting candidate retires from the election under sub-section (1), he shall not be
allowed to subsequently cancel the retirement.
(3) On receiving a notice of retirement under sub-section (1), the Returning Officer shall, if he
is satisfied that the signature on the notice is that of the candidate, cause a copy of the notice to be
affixed at a conspicuous place in his office.
(4) A person in respect of whom a notice of retirement has been published under sub-section
(3) shall be deemed to have withdrawn his candidature under section 65.
1
[72B. Effect of section 72A.—The provisions of section 72A inserted under section 2 of the
Elections (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (XX of 2021), which stands omitted on the repeal of the said
Ordinance by virtue of proviso to sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (a) of clause (2) of Article 89 of the
Constitution, shall always be deemed to have been omitted and shall have no, and shall always be
deemed to have no, effect whatsoever at any point of time.]
73. Death of a candidate after nomination.— (1) If a contesting candidate dies before
commencement of the poll or during the polling hours, the Returning Officer shall, by public notice,
terminate the proceedings relating to that election.
(2) Where the proceedings relating to an election have been terminated under sub-section (1),
fresh proceedings shall be commenced in accordance with the provisions of this Act, as if for a new
election but it shall not be necessary for the other contesting candidates to file fresh nomination papers
or make a further deposit under section 61.
74. Postponement under certain circumstances.— (1) Where the proceedings relating to
nomination, scrutiny or withdrawal cannot, for reasons beyond the control of the Returning Officer, to
be recorded in writing, take place on the day appointed for the proceedings, he may postpone such
proceedings.
(2) When the proceedings are postponed by the Returning Officer under sub-section (1), he
shall inform the Commission of his having done so and the Commission shall, by notification in the
official Gazette, fix another day for the proceedings so postponed and, if necessary, the day or days
for any subsequent proceedings.
1
Ins. by Act No. X of 2022, s. 2.
Page 45 of 122
75. Uncontested election.— (1) Where, after scrutiny of nomination papers, there remains
only one validly nominated candidate or where, after withdrawal under section 65 or retirement under
section 72, there remains only one contesting candidate, the Returning Officer shall, by public notice,
declare such candidate to be elected to the seat:
Provided that if after scrutiny any candidate indicates that he intends to file an appeal under
section 63 against the rejection of his nomination paper, no person shall be declared elected until the
period appointed for filing such appeal has expired and no such appeal has been filed or, where an
appeal is filed, until the disposal of the appeal.
(2) The Returning Officer shall submit to the Commission a return of the result of the election
in respect of which he has made a declaration under sub-section (1).
(3) The Commission shall, after such summary enquiry as it may deem necessary in any case,
publish in the official Gazette the name of the candidate declared elected under sub-section (2).
76. Election agent.— 1[(1) A candidate may appoint three voters in the constituency as
his election agents and shall send to the Returning Officer a notice in writing of the appointment
containing the names, fathers’ names and addresses of the election agents. However, at the time of
consolidation of results, only one agent shall be present as authorized by a candidate.]
(2) The appointment of an election agent may, at any time be revoked in writing by the
candidate and, when it is so revoked or if the election agent dies, the candidate may appoint another
person as his election agent.
(3) Where a candidate has not appointed an election agent, the candidate shall be deemed to be
his own election agent and shall, so far as the circumstances permit, be subject to the provisions of this
Act both as a candidate and as an election agent.
77. Polling agent.— (1) The contesting candidate or his election agent may, before the
commencement of or during the poll, appoint for each polling station as many polling agents as may
be prescribed and shall give notice in writing to the Presiding Officer communicating the appointment.
(2) The appointment of a polling agent under sub-section (1) may at any time be revoked by
the candidate or his election agent and, when it is so revoked or if the polling agent dies, another person
may be appointed by the candidate or his election agent as a polling agent and a notice of such
appointment shall be given to the Presiding Officer.
78. Supply of ballot boxes.— (1) The Returning Officer shall provide each Presiding Officer
with such number of ballot boxes as may be necessary.
(2) The Commission shall approve the material and design of the ballot boxes.
(3) Not more than one ballot box shall be used at a time for the purpose of the poll at any
polling station, or where there are more than one polling booths at a polling station, at any polling
booth.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 15.
Page 46 of 122
(4) Before the time fixed for the commencement of the poll, the Presiding Officer shall—
(a) ensure that every ballot box to be used is empty;
(b) show the empty ballot box to the contesting candidates and their election
agents or polling agents whoever may be present, and record their
statements in this behalf in the prescribed form and obtain their
signatures on the form;
(c) after the ballot box has been shown to be empty, close and seal it with
his own seal and with the seal of such of the candidates, or their election
agents or polling agents as may be present and may desire to put their
own seals on it; and
(d) place the ballot box so as to be conveniently accessible to the voters, and
at the same time within his view and within the view of such candidates
or their election agents or polling agents as may be present.
(5) If one ballot box is full or cannot further be used for receiving ballot papers, the Presiding
Officer shall seal that ballot box with his own seal and with the seals of the candidates or their polling
agents who may wish to seal it and keep it in a secure place in the polling station and use another ballot
box in the manner laid down in sub-section (4).
79. Supply of final electoral rolls.— (1) The Commission shall provide the Returning Officer
for each constituency with copies of final electoral rolls for all the electoral areas within that
constituency.
(2) The Returning Officer shall provide the Presiding Officer of each polling station with copies
of the final electoral rolls containing the names of the voters entitled to vote at that polling station.
1
[(2A) On the day of polling, the Presiding Officer shall post outside the polling station list
showing numbers of the voters assigned to each polling booth.]
(3) On the application of a candidate or his election agent, the District Election Commissioner
or any officer authorized in this behalf by the Commission shall provide to a candidate or an election
agent a hard and searchable soft copy on universal serial bus (USB) in portable document format (PDF)
or any other tamper-proof format of the final electoral roll with photographs of the voters and shall
ensure that the copy is the same as provided to the Returning Officer and Presiding Officers.
80. Supply of ballot papers.— The Commission shall provide the Returning Officer of a
constituency with requisite number of ballot papers as determined under section 71 in the manner as
may be prescribed.
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 16.
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81. Election by secret ballot.— (1) An election under this Act shall be held by secret ballot
and, subject to the provisions of sections 93, 94 and 103, every voter shall cast his vote by inserting,
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, in the ballot box, a ballot paper in the prescribed form.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall make such arrangements at the polling station that every voter
may be able to secretly mark his ballot paper before folding and inserting it in the ballot box.
82. Admission to the polling station.—The Presiding Officer, shall, subject to such
instructions as the Commission may give in this behalf, regulate the number of voters to be admitted
to the polling station at one time and shall exclude from the polling station all other persons except—
(a) any person on duty in connection with the election;
(b) the contesting candidates, their election agents and polling agents; and
(c) such other persons as may be specifically permitted by the Commission
or any other authority empowered by the Commission.
83. Maintenance of order at the polling station.— (1) The Presiding Officer shall keep order
at the polling station and may remove or cause to be removed any person who misconducts himself at
a polling station or fails to obey any lawful orders of the Presiding Officer.
(2) Any person removed under sub-section (1) from a polling station shall not, without the
permission of the Presiding Officer, again enter the polling station during the poll and shall, if he is
accused of an offence in the polling station, be liable to be arrested without warrant by a Police Officer.
(3) Powers under this section shall be so exercised as not to deprive a voter of his right to cast
his vote at the polling station where he is entitled to vote.
(4) All officials posted at a polling station including officials of law enforcing agencies shall
render their fullest cooperation to the Presiding Officer for maintenance of order and for ensuring
uninterrupted voting at the polling station 1[:]
1
[Provided that officials of the law enforcement agencies shall be posted for security duties
outside the polling station but in an emergency may be called inside by the Presiding Officer to restore
order and peaceful polling.]
84. Voting procedure.— (1) Where a voter presents himself at the polling station to vote, the
Presiding Officer shall issue a ballot paper to the voter after satisfying himself about his identity and
shall, for that purpose, require him to produce his original National Identity Card issued by the National
Database and Registration Authority.
(2) For the purpose of verification of the identity of a voter, the Commission may adopt such
other technology as in its opinion may prove effective, including bio-metric verification system, in
addition to the National Identity Card mentioned in sub-section (1).
1
Subs. and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 17.
Page 48 of 122
(3) Failure of a voter to prove his identity through the new technology shall not disentitle him
to cast his vote if he is otherwise entitled so to do under this section.
(4) Before a ballot paper is issued to a voter—
(a) the number and name of the voter as entered in the electoral roll shall be
called out;
(b) the entry relating to the voter on the electoral roll shall be struck off to
indicate that a ballot paper has been issued to him;
(c) he shall be required to receive a personal mark, made with indelible ink,
on any finger or thumb of either hand as indicated by the Commission;
(d) the ballot paper shall be stamped on its back with the official mark and
signed by the Presiding Officer;
(e) the Presiding Officer shall record on the counterfoil of the ballot paper
the number of the voter on the electoral roll, the number of the National
Identity Card of the voter, stamp it with the official mark, sign it and
obtain on it the thumb impression of the voter; and
(f) the Polling Officer shall obtain the thumb impression of the voter on the
space provided on the electoral roll for the purpose against the
photograph of the voter.
(5) A ballot paper shall not be issued to a person who
(a) fails or refuses to produce his original National Identity Card issued by
the National Database and Registration Authority;
(b) refuses to put his thumb impression on the counterfoil or, as the case
may be, on the space provided for the purpose on the electoral roll
against his photograph or whose thumb bears traces of its having already
been used for putting an impression; or
(c) refuses to receive the personal mark with indelible ink; or who already
bears such a mark or traces of such a mark.
(6) If a contesting candidate or his election agent or polling agent alleges that a voter to whom
a ballot paper is about to be issued already has one or more ballot papers in his possession, the Presiding
Officer may require the voter to satisfy him that he does not have any other ballot paper in his
possession and may also take such measures as he thinks fit to ensure that such voter does not insert
more than one ballot paper in the ballot box.
(7) On receiving the ballot paper, the voter shall—
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(a) forthwith proceed to the place reserved for marking the ballot paper;
(b) put the prescribed mark on the ballot paper at any place within the space
containing the name and symbol of the contesting candidate for whom
he wishes to vote; and
(c) after he has so marked the ballot paper, fold and insert it in the ballot
box.
(8) The voter shall vote without undue delay and shall leave the polling station immediately
after he has inserted his ballot paper in the ballot box.
(9) Where a voter is blind or is otherwise so incapacitated that he cannot vote without the
assistance of his companion, the Presiding Officer shall allow him such assistance and thereupon such
voter may, with such assistance, do anything which a voter is required or permitted to do under this
Act.
85. Tendered Ballot Papers.— (1) If a person representing himself to be a voter applies for a
ballot paper when another person has already represented to be that voter and has voted under the name
of the person so applying—
(a) if the applicant meets the requirements of identity verification laid down
in section 84, he shall be entitled, subject to the provisions of the section
to receive a ballot paper (hereinafter referred to as “Tendered Ballot
Paper”) in the same manner as any other voter;
(b) if the applicant fails to prove his claimed identity, the Presiding Officer
may proceed against him for personation punishable under Chapter X.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall, after the voter has marked and folded the Tendered Ballot
Paper, place it in the same condition in a separate packet bearing the label “Tendered Ballot Papers”
instead of being placed in the ballot box.
(3) The Presiding Officer shall enter in a list (Tendered Votes List) the name of the voter who
has received a tendered ballot paper and his number on the electoral roll.
(4) The Presiding Officer shall send the Tendered Votes List along with copies of the National
Identity Cards and other documents if any produced by the voters to the Returning Officer, and the
Returning Officer shall send the same along with the electoral roll and counterfoils bearing the thumb
impressions to the Commission.
(5) The Commission shall send the Tendered Votes List and other documents mentioned in
sub-section (4) to the National Database and Registration Authority for forensic enquiry to identify
both the voters who voted against one entry in the electoral roll and the National Database and
Registration Authority shall submit a report confirming the personation or otherwise to the
Commission, which shall initiate legal action against the person who personated or attempted to
personate and the election officials responsible for committing negligence in issuing a ballot paper to
the personator.
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86. Challenge of voters.— (1) If, at the time, a person applies for ballot paper for the purpose
of voting, a candidate 1[, his election agent] or his polling agent declares to the Presiding Officer that
he has reasonable cause to believe that person has already voted in the election at the same or another
polling station, or is not the person whose name is entered in the electoral roll and undertakes to prove
the charge in a court and deposits with the Presiding Officer in cash a sum of one hundred rupees, the
Presiding Officer may, after warning the person of the consequences and obtaining on the counterfoil,
his thumb impression and if he is literate, also his signature, issue a ballot paper (Challenged Ballot
Paper) to the person.
(2) If the Presiding Officer issues a Challenged Ballot Paper to any person, he shall enter the
name and address of that person in a list to be prepared by him (Challenged Votes List) and obtain on
it the thumb impression and, if he is literate, also the signature of that person.
(3) The Presiding Officer shall, after the Challenged Ballot Paper has been marked and folded
by the voter, place it in the same condition in a separate packet bearing the label “Challenged Ballot
Papers”, instead of being placed in the ballot box and shall include it in the count by him in the manner
provided in section 90.
87. Spoilt Ballot Papers.— (1) A voter who has inadvertently so spoilt his ballot paper that it
cannot be used as a valid ballot paper may, upon proving the fact of inadvertence to the satisfaction of
the Presiding Officer and returning the ballot paper to him, obtain another ballot paper and cast his
vote by such other ballot paper.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall cancel the ballot paper returned to him under sub-section (1),
make a note to that effect on the counterfoil under his own signatures and sign the cancelled ballot
paper and place it in a separate packet bearing the label “Spoilt Ballot Papers”.
88. Stopping of the poll.— (1) The Presiding Officer shall stop the poll and inform the
Returning Officer that he has done so if—
(a) the poll at the polling station is, at any time, so interrupted or obstructed
for reasons beyond the control of the Presiding Officer that it cannot be
resumed during the polling hours fixed under section 70; and
(b) any ballot box used at the polling station is unlawfully taken out of the
custody of the Presiding Officer, or is accidentally or intentionally
destroyed, or is lost or is damaged or tampered with to such an extent
that the result of the poll at the polling station cannot be ascertained.
(2) Where a poll has been stopped under sub-section (1), the Returning Officer shall
immediately report the circumstances to the Commission and the Commission shall direct a fresh poll
at that polling station unless it is satisfied that the result of the election has been determined by the
polling that has already taken place at that polling station, along with the result of the polling at other
polling stations in the same constituency.
_________________________________________________________________________________
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 18.
Page 51 of 122
(3) Where the Commission orders a fresh poll under sub-section (2)—
(a) it shall, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint a day for a fresh
poll and fix the place at which and the hours during which such fresh
poll shall be taken; and
(b) the Returning Officer shall give public notice of the day so appointed
and the place and hours so fixed.
(4) At a fresh poll taken under sub-section (3) at a polling station, all voters entitled to vote at
the polling station shall be allowed to vote and no vote cast at the previous poll stopped under sub-
section (1) shall be counted; and the provisions of this Act and the Rules and orders made under the
law shall apply to such fresh poll.
89. Voting after close of poll.— The Presiding Officer shall not issue any ballot paper or
permit any person to vote after the hour fixed for the close of the poll except the persons who at that
hour are present within the building, room, tent or enclosure in which the polling station is situated
and have not voted but are waiting to vote.
90. Proceedings at the close of poll.— (1) The Presiding Officer shall count the votes
immediately after the close of the poll in the presence of such of the contesting candidates, election
agents, polling agents and authorized observers as may be present.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall give such of the contesting candidates, election agents, polling
agents and authorized observers as may be present reasonable facility of observing the count and give
them such information with respect to the count as can be given consistent with the orderly conduct of
the count and the discharge of his duties in connection with the count.
(3) The Presiding Officer shall not allow any person to be present at the count other than
election officials on duty in connection with the poll, the contesting candidates, their election agents
and polling agents or any other person authorized by the Commission.
(4) The Presiding Officer shall—
(a) open the used ballot box or ballot boxes and count the entire lot of ballot
papers taken out therefrom;
(b) open the packets bearing the labels “Tendered Ballot Papers” and
“Challenged Ballot Papers” and count them; and
(c) count, in such manner as may be prescribed, the votes cast in favour of
each contesting candidate excluding from the count the Spoilt Ballot
Papers and the ballot papers which bear—
(i) no official mark and signature of the Presiding Officer;
(ii) any writing or any mark other than the official mark, the
signature of the Presiding Officer and the prescribed mark or to
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which a piece of paper or any other object of any kind has been
attached;
(iii) no prescribed mark to indicate the contesting candidate for
whom the voter has voted; or
(iv) any mark from which it is not clear for whom the voter has voted.
(5) A ballot paper shall be deemed to have been marked in favour of a candidate if the whole
or more than half of the area of the prescribed mark appears clearly within the space containing the
name and symbol of that candidate and, where the prescribed mark is divided equally between two
such spaces, the ballot paper shall be deemed invalid.
(6) The Presiding Officer may recount the votes if he considers it necessary—
(a) of his own motion; or
(b) upon the request of a contesting candidate, an election agent or a polling
agent present:
Provided that the recount shall be made by the Presiding Officer only once.
(7) The valid ballot papers cast in favour of each contesting candidate, shall be put in separate
packets and each such packet shall be sealed and shall contain a certificate as to the number, both in
letters and figures, of the ballot papers put in it and shall also indicate the nature of its contents,
specifying the name and symbol of the contesting candidate to whom the packet relates.
(8) The ballot papers excluded from the count shall be put in a separate packet indicating on
the packet the total number of the ballot papers contained in the packet both in letters and figures.
(9) The packets mentioned in sub-sections (7) and (8) shall be put in a principal packet which
shall be sealed by the Presiding Officer.
(10) The Presiding Officer shall, immediately after the count, prepare a Result of the Count in
such form as may be prescribed showing therein the number of valid votes polled by each contesting
candidate and the ballot papers excluded from the count.
(11) The Presiding Officer shall prepare in the prescribed form a Ballot Paper Account showing
separately—
(a) the number of ballot papers entrusted to him;
(b) the number of un-issued ballot papers;
(c) the number of ballot papers taken out of the ballot box or boxes and
counted;
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(d) the number of Tendered Ballot Papers;
(e) the number of Challenged Ballot Papers; and
(f) the number of Spoilt Ballot Papers.
(12) The Presiding Officer, after preparation of the Result of the Count and the Ballot Paper
Account, shall sign them and obtain thereon the signatures of the senior-most Assistant Presiding
Officer and an accredited observer, a candidate or his election agent or polling agents as may be present
in token of the said documents having been prepared in their presence and if any such person refuses
to sign it, the Presiding Officer shall record a note on the result of the count and the ballot paper account
to that effect.
(13) The Presiding Officer shall give a copy each of the Result of the Count and the Ballot
Paper Account signed, stamped and thumb marked by him and the senior most Assistant Presiding
Officer to such of the candidates, their election agents or polling agents as may be present and obtain
a receipt for such copy and if any such person refuses to sign it, the Presiding Officer shall record a
note to that effect.
(14) The Presiding Officer shall publish the Result of the Count and Ballot Paper Account,
signed by him and others, by affixing copies at a conspicuous place at the polling station for public
inspection.
(15) The Presiding Officer shall seal in separate packets—
(a) the un-issued ballot papers;
(b) the Tendered Ballot Papers;
(c) the Tendered Votes List;
(d) the Challenged Ballot Papers held to be valid and counted by the
Presiding Officer;
(e) the Challenged Ballot Papers considered doubtful and excluded from the
count by the Presiding Officer;
(f) the Challenged Votes List;
(g) the Spoilt Ballot Papers;
(h) the marked copies of the electoral rolls;
(i) the counterfoils of used ballot papers; and
(j) such other papers as the Commission or Returning Officer may direct.
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(16) The Presiding Officer shall obtain on each statement and packet prepared under this
section the signature of such of the contesting candidates or their election agents or polling agents as
may be present and, if any such person refuses to sign, the Presiding Officer shall record that fact on
each such statement or packet.
(17) A person required to sign a statement or packet under sub-section (16) may, if he so
desires, also affix his seal to it.
1
[(18) Immediately after the close of proceedings under this section, the Presiding Officer shall,
in compliance with such instructions as may be given by the Commission in this behalf, personally
deliver without delay the result of the count and the ballot paper account prepared by him to the
Returning Officer and to such other officer as may be authorized by the Commission, together with
such other records as the Commission may direct:
Provided that if the Returning Officer is of the view that delivery has been inexcusably delayed,
he shall refer the defaulting Presiding Officer to the Commission for initiation of disciplinary
proceedings under section 54 and pending final decision in these proceedings, remuneration due to the
Presiding Officer in connection with the election shall be withheld.]
91. Statement about turnout of women voters.— (1) The Presiding Officer shall prepare a
gender disaggregated statement of voters showing total number of men and women voters at the
polling station and the total votes cast by men and women voters.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall send the gender disaggregated statement of voters to the
Returning Officer and to the Commission at the time of communication of result to the Returning
Officer and the Commission.
(3) The Presiding Officer may, at any stage on the polling day during or after the polling,
prepare and send a special report to the Returning Officer and to the Commission if he has reason to
believe that women voters have been restrained from exercising their right to vote based on any express
or implied agreement.
92. Announcement of provisional results.— On receipt of the Results of the Count from all
Presiding Officers of a constituency, the Returning Officer shall forthwith prepare and announce
provisional Consolidated Statement of Results of the Count of the constituency (excluding postal
ballots) in the prescribed manner, in the presence of such contesting candidates, their election agents
or authorized observers as may be present, affix a copy of the provisional Consolidated Statement of
Results signed by him at a conspicuous place in his office and send a copy thereof to the Commission.
93. Postal ballot.— (1) The following persons may cast their votes by postal ballot in such
manner as may be prescribed—
(a) a person referred to in sub-sections (2) or (3) of section 27;
(b) a person appointed by the Returning Officer, including police personnel,
for the performance of any duty in connection with an election at polling
station other than the one at which he is entitled to cast his vote;
(c) a person with any physical disability who is unable to travel and holds a
National Identity Card with a logo for physical disability issued by the
National Database and Registration Authority; and
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Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 19.
Page 55 of 122
(d) a person detained in a prison or held in custody.
(2) A voter who, being entitled to do so, intends to cast his vote by postal ballot shall—
(a) in the case of a person referred to in clause (a) 1[, clause (c) and clause
(d)] of sub-section (1), within such time as may be specified by the
Commission soon after the issuance of the Election Programme; and
(b) in the case of a person referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1), within
three days of his appointment;
apply to the Returning Officer of the constituency in which he is a voter for a ballot paper for voting
by postal ballot; and every such application shall specify the name of the voter, his address and his
serial number in the electoral roll.
(3) The Returning Officer shall upon receipt of an application by a voter under sub-section (2)
send by post to such voter a ballot paper and an envelope bearing on its face a form of certificate of
posting, showing the date thereof, to be filled in by the proper official of the Post Office at the time of
posting by the voter 1[:]
1
[Provided that the date of receipt of the application shall be entered thereon by the Returning
Officer and application received after the date mentioned in sub-section (2) shall not be entertained.]
1
[(3A) After sending ballot papers to all the entitled applicants, the Returning Officer shall
place all the counterfoils of the said ballot papers in one or more packets and sign and seal the same,
noting on each packet the number contained therein.]
(4) A voter on receiving his ballot paper for voting by postal ballot shall record his vote in the
prescribed manner and, after so recording, post the ballot paper to the Returning Officer in the envelope
sent to him under subsection (3), so as to reach the Returning Officer before the 1[polling day].
94. Voting by Overseas Pakistanis.— 2[(1) The Commission may conduct pilot projects for
voting by Overseas Pakistanis in Bye-elections to ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security
and financial feasibility of such voting and shall share the results with the Government, which shall,
within fifteen days from the commencement of a session of a House after the receipt of the report, lay
the same before both Houses of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).]
(2) In this section, ‘Overseas Pakistani’ means a citizen of Pakistan under the Pakistan
Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951) or holder of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis under
the National Database and Registration Authority ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000) who is working or
residing abroad permanently or temporarily for not less than six months.
95. Consolidation of results.— (1) Immediately after announcement of provisional results,
the Returning Officer shall give the contesting candidates and their election agents a notice in writing
of the day, time and place fixed for the consolidation of the results, and, in the presence of such of the
contesting candidates and election agents as may be present, consolidate in the prescribed manner the
Results of the Count furnished by the Presiding Officers, including therein the postal ballots received
by him before the time fixed for the consolidation of results 1[:]
1
[Provided that presence of not more than one agent of each candidate shall be allowed.]
1
Subs., added and ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 20-21.
2
Subs. by Act No. X of 2022, s. 3.
Page 56 of 122
(2) Before consolidating the Results of the Count, the Returning Officer shall examine the
ballot papers excluded from the count by the Presiding Officer and, if he finds that any such ballot
paper should not have been so excluded, count it as a ballot paper cast in favour of the contesting
candidate for whom the vote has been cast.
(3) The Returning Officer shall also count the ballot papers received by him by post in such
manner as may be prescribed and include the votes cast in favour of each contesting candidate in the
Consolidated Statement except those which he may reject on any of the grounds mentioned in section
90.
(4) The ballot papers rejected by the Returning Officer under sub-section (3) shall be mentioned
separately in the consolidated statement.
1
[(5) Before commencement of the proceedings, the Returning Officer shall recount the ballot
papers of one or more polling stations if a request or challenge in writing is made to that effect by a
contesting candidate or his election agent and__
(a) the margin of victory between returned and runner up candidates is less than
five percent of the total votes polled in the constituency or eight thousand votes
in case of National Assembly constituency and four thousand votes in case of a
Provincial Assembly constituency, as the case may be, whichever is less; or
(b) the number of votes excluded from the count by the Presiding Officer are equal
to or more than the margin of victory:
Provided that the Returning Officer shall recount only once.]
(6) The Commission may, before conclusion of the consolidation proceedings 1[and after notice
to the contesting candidates], for reasons to be recorded, direct the Returning Officer to recount the
ballot papers of one or more polling stations.
(7) If there is a difference between the Results of the Count received from the Presiding Officers
and the results of the recount, the Returning Officer shall record the difference and details thereof:
Provided that where the Returning Officer has recounted the votes under sub-section (5) or
sub-section (6), the consolidation proceedings shall be completed 1[within__
(a) seven days after the polling day in the case of elections to the National
Assembly; and
(b) five days after the polling day in the case of elections to a Provincial Assembly.]
(8) The Returning Officer shall, within twenty four hours after the consolidation proceedings,
send to the Commission signed copies of the Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count and
Final Consolidated Result together with Results of the Count and the Ballot Paper Account, as received
from the Presiding Officers, and shall retain copies of these documents for record.
1
Subs. and ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 21.
Page 57 of 122
(9) After consolidation of results, the Returning Officer shall give to such contesting candidates
and their election agents 1[and accredited observers] as are present during the consolidation proceedings a
copy of the Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count and the Final Consolidated Result sent to
the Commission against proper receipt.
(10) On receipt of documents under sub-section (8), the Commission shall, within fourteen days
from the date of the poll, publish the documents on its website.
1
[96. Resealing of packets and supply of copies.— The Returning Officer shall immediately after
preparing the Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count and the Final Consolidated Result, reseal
in the prescribed manner the packets and statements opened by him for the purpose of consolidation,
permitting such of the candidates and their election agents as may be present to sign the packets and affix
their seals to such packets.]
97. Equality of votes.— (1) Where, after consolidation of the Results of the Count, there is equality
of votes between two contesting candidates, the Returning Officer shall declare both the candidates as
returned and each one of them shall be entitled to represent his constituency in the respective Assembly for
half of its term of office.
(2) The Returning Officer shall draw a lot in respect of the returned candidates referred to in sub-
section (1) to determine as to who shall serve as Member of the Assembly for the first half of its term of
office and the name of the candidate, whose name is drawn in the lot, shall be notified as such in the official
Gazette by the Commission.
(3) The Returning Officer shall draw lots in the presence of such of the contesting candidates and
their election agents as may be present.
(4) The Returning Officer shall keep record of the proceedings and obtain on the proceedings
signature of such of the candidates and election agents as have been witness to the proceedings, and if any
such person refuses to sign, such fact shall be recorded.
(5) If, in case of death or any other cause one of the returned candidates fails to assume office as a
Member or his seat becomes vacant, the other surviving returned candidate shall serve as a member for
whole or remainder of the term of the Assembly.
(6) Where, on consolidation of results, there is equality of votes among more than two contesting
candidates, the Commission shall issue fresh Election Programme for the constituency and determine the
date of polling day which shall not be later than sixty days from the date of consolidation of results of the
constituency.
98. Declaration of results.— (1) On receipt of the Final Consolidated Result from the Returning
Officer, the Commission shall, within fourteen days from the date of the poll, publish in the official Gazette
the name of the contesting candidate who has received the highest number of votes and stands elected.
(2) The Commission shall also publish in the official Gazette the name of each contesting candidate
and the total number of votes received by him as in the Final Consolidated Result.
1
Ins. and subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 21-22.
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(3) Every returned candidate shall, within ten days from the poll of an election, submit a return
of election expenses under section 134 and the Commission shall not notify in the official Gazette the
result of a returned candidate who fails to submit his return of election expenses.
(4) The Commission shall place the documents mentioned in sub-sections (1) and (2) on its
website within two days from the date of the publication of the name of the returned candidate in the
official Gazette.
99. Documents to be retained by the Commission.— (1) The Returning Officer shall seal the
tamper-evident bags provided to him for the purpose after putting in the bags the following
documents—
(a) the packets containing the ballot papers each of which shall be sealed
with the seal of the Presiding Officer or, if opened by the Returning
Officer, with the seal of the Returning Officer;
(b) the packets containing the counterfoils of issued ballot papers;
(c) the packets containing the marked copies of the electoral rolls used in
the poll;
(d) the packets containing the Ballot Paper Account;
1
[(da) the packets containing results of the count, provisional and final
consolidated statement of results of the count and final consolidated
results;]
(e) the packets containing the Tendered Ballot Papers included in the count;
the Tendered Ballot Papers excluded from the count; the Tendered Votes
List, and the Challenged Ballot Papers included in the count; the
Challenged Ballot Papers excluded from the count; the Challenged
Votes List; and the Spoilt Ballot Papers; and
(f) such other papers as the Commission may direct.
Explanation.―“Tamper-evident bag” means a specially designed bag approved
by the Commission, having one or more indicators which, if breached, can reasonably be expected to
provide visible evidence that tampering has occurred.
(2) The Returning Officer shall, in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed,
before sealing the bags under sub-section (1), endorse in each packet the description of its contents,
the date of the election to which the contents relate and the name and number of the constituency for
which the election was held and shall furnish a certificate to the Commission that the provisions of
sub-sections (1) and (2) have been complied with in respect of packets relating to all polling stations
of the constituency.
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 23.
Page 59 of 122
(3) The Commission shall arrange storage space under its control at appropriate places for safe
custody of tamper-evident sealed bags containing the documents specified in sub-section (1) pertaining
to all constituencies.
(4) Till arrangements of storage space are made, the sealed bags shall be deposited in the
Treasury or Sub-Treasury and the Treasury Officer or, as the case may be, Sub-Treasury Officer shall
ensure safety and security of these bags and if any of the bags in his custody is subsequently found
damaged or tampered with, the Commission shall order an enquiry against the Treasury Officer or
Sub-Treasury Officer to determine the causes of damage or tampering.
(5) If as a result of enquiry held under sub-section (4), the Treasury Officer or Sub-Treasury
Officer is found guilty of negligence or a willful act, the competent authority on complaint of the
Commission shall proceed against the Treasury Officer or Sub-Treasury Officer for breach of official
duty.
(6) If upon opening of the tamper-evident sealed bag under the order of the Commission, or as
the case may be, the Election Tribunal, any of the packets containing documents specified in sub-
section (1) is found to have been tampered with, the Returning Officer, or, the Presiding Officer with
whose seal the packet was sealed shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions relating to
breach of official duty.
(7) The Commission shall retain the documents contained in the packets deposited under sub-
section (4) for a period of one year from the date of their deposit and shall thereafter, subject to any
order of the Tribunal or other Court, cause them to be destroyed:
Provided that the documents of a constituency where election petition has been filed by a
candidate shall be retained till final disposal of the election petition.
100. Public inspection of documents.—The documents retained by the Commission under
section 99 except the ballot papers, shall be open to public inspection at such time and subject to such
conditions as may be prescribed and the Commission shall, upon an application made in this behalf
and on payment of such fee and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, furnish copies of, or
extracts from, those documents.
101. Order for production of documents.—(1) An Election Tribunal may order the
opening of packets of counterfoils and certificates or the inspection of any counted ballot papers.
(2) The Election Tribunal may refuse to issue order under sub-section (1) if it is not likely
to have an impact on the result of the election.
(3) An order under sub-section (1) may be made subject to such conditions as to persons,
time, place and mode of inspection, production of documents and opening of packets as the Tribunal
making the order may think expedient.
(4) Where an order is made under sub-section (1), the production by the Commission of
any document in such manner as may be directed by the order shall be conclusive evidence that the
document relates to the election specified in the order and any endorsement on any ballot papers or
packet of ballot papers or documents so produced shall be prima facie evidence that the ballot papers
or documents are what the endorsement states them to be.
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(5) The production from proper custody of a numbered counterfoil bearing the signature or
thumb impression of a voter shall be prima facie evidence that the voter was the same person whose
name was on the electoral rolls with the same number as was written on the counterfoil.
(6) Save as is provided in this section, no person shall be allowed to inspect any rejected or
counted ballot papers in the possession of the Commission.
102. Bye-elections.—(1) When the seat of a Member becomes vacant, the Commission
shall, by notification in the official Gazette, call upon the constituency concerned to elect a person to
fill the seat for the constituency on such date as may be specified in the notification and the provisions
of this Act and the Rules shall apply, with necessary changes, to the election to fill such seat.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 57, the days for the several stages of an
election shall be such as may be specified in the notification of the Commission under sub-section (1).
1
[103. Electronic voting and biometric verification.—The Commission may conduct pilot
projects for utilization of electronic voting machines and biometric verification system in Bye-
elections in addition to the existing manual procedures for voter verification, casting and counting of
votes to assess the technical efficacy, secrecy, security and financial feasibility of the electronic voting
machines and biometric verification system and shall share the results with the Government, which
shall, within fifteen days from the commencement of a session of a House after the receipt of the
report, lay the same before both Houses of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).]
CHAPTER VI
ELECTION TO RESERVED SEATS IN AN ASSEMBLY
104. Party lists for reserved seats.—(1) 2[Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or
any other law for the time being in force or any judgement, decree or order of any court including the
Supreme Court and a High Court, for the] purpose of election to seats reserved for women and non-
Muslims in an Assembly, the political parties contesting election for such seats shall, within the period
fixed by the Commission for submission of nomination papers, file separate lists of their candidates in
order of priority for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims with the Commission or, as it may
direct, with the Provincial Election Commissioner or other authorized officer of the Commission, who
shall forthwith cause such lists to be published for information of the public:
Provided that the list submitted by a political party shall not be subject to change or alteration
either in the order of priority or through addition of new names in the list or omission of any name
after expiry of the date of submission of nomination papers 2[:]
2
[Provided further that if any political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the
aforesaid prescribed time period, it shall not be eligible for the quota in the reserved seats at later
stage.]
(2) The parties’ lists referred to in sub-section (1) may contain as many names of additional
candidates as a political party may deem necessary for contesting seats reserved for women and non-
Muslims, to provide for any disqualification of candidates during scrutiny of nomination papers or for
filling of any vacant seats during the term of an Assembly.
(3) A candidate to a seat reserved for women or non-Muslims shall file the nomination papers
on the Form on or before the last date fixed for filing of nomination papers for the election and the
nomination papers shall, as nearly as possible, be scrutinized in the same manner as nomination papers
of candidates on general seats are scrutinized under section 62.
1
Subs. by Act No. X of 2022, s. 4.
2
Subs. and added by Act No. XV of 2024, s. 3.
Page 61 of 122
(4) If, at any time, the party list is exhausted, the political party may submit a name for any
vacancy which may occur thereafter and the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) shall, as nearly
as possible, apply to fill such vacancy.
(5) Where a seat reserved for women or non-Muslims in an Assembly falls vacant as a result
of death, resignation or disqualification of a Member, it shall be filled in by the next person in order
of precedence from the party‘s list of candidates submitted to the Commission under sub-section (1).
(6) Before notifying the name of the next person in order of priority from the party list, such
person shall submit a declaration on oath that since the filing of his nomination paper, he has not
become subject to any disqualification contained in Article 63.
(7) A candidate contesting election on a seat reserved for women or non-Muslims shall, along
with the nomination papers and its annexures, submit to the Returning Officer appointed by the
Commission in this behalf—
(a) a copy of the party list of the candidate’s political party for such seats;
(b) declarations and statements in support of the nomination; and
(c) proof of deposit of the fee required for filing nomination papers.
(8) Where there is equality of share on a reserved seat between two or more political parties,
the Returning Officer shall declare the returned candidate by drawing of lots.
1
[104A. Consent for joining of political party by independent returned candidate to be
irrevocable etc.—Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or rules or any other law, for the
time being in force, or a judgment, decree or order of any court including the Supreme Court and a
High Court, the declaration, consent or affidavit, by whatever name called, of an independent returned
candidate once given for joining a political party shall be irrevocable and cannot be
substituted or withdrawn.]
CHAPTER VII
CONDUCT OF ELECTION TO THE SENATE
105. Returning Officers and Polling Officers.—For the purpose of an election to the Senate,
the Commission shall appoint a Returning Officer for each Province 2[and the Islamabad Capital
Territory] and shall also appoint such number of Polling Officers to assist the Returning Officer as it
may consider necessary.
106. Functions of Returning Officer.—(1) A Returning Officer shall effectively conduct an
election under this Act and the Rules.
(2) A Returning Officer shall exercise all necessary powers for maintaining order at the polling
station and shall report to the Commission any fact or incident which may affect the conduct or fairness
of the poll.
(3) The Returning Officer may, during the course of the poll, entrust to a Polling Officer such
of his functions as may be specified by him; and it shall be the duty of the Polling Officer to perform
the functions so entrusted.
1
Ins. by Act No. XV of 2024, s. 4.
2
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 24.
Page 62 of 122
(4) The Returning Officer shall authorize one of the Polling Officers to act in his place if he is,
at any time during the poll by reason of illness or other cause, not present at the polling station or is
unable to perform his functions.
(5) The Returning Officer may, at any time during the poll and, for reasons to be recorded in
writing, suspend any Polling Officer and make such arrangements as he may consider necessary for
the performance of the functions of the Polling Officer so suspended.
107. Notification for election.— 1[(1) The Commission shall, by notification in the official
Gazette, call upon the Members of the Assembly of a Province or, as the case may be, the National
Assembly to elect such number of Members to the Senate from that Province or the Islamabad Capital
Territory, as the case may be, as is specified in the notification.]
(2) The Commission shall in the same notification fix—
(a) the last date for making nominations, which shall be the second day after the
publication of the notification or, if that day is a public holiday, the next
succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(b) the last date for publication of the names of the nominated candidates, which
shall be the day following the last date of filing of nomination papers;
(c) the last date for the scrutiny of the nominations, which shall be the third day
following the last date for making nominations or, if that day is a public holiday,
the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(d) the last date for filing of appeals against acceptance or rejection of nominations,
which shall be the second day following the last date for the scrutiny of
nominations or, if that day is a public holiday, the next succeeding day which is
not a public holiday;
(e) the last date for decision of appeals, which shall be the second day following
the last date for filing of appeals or, if that day is a public holiday, the next
succeeding day which is not a public holiday;
(f) the last date for publication of the revised list of candidates, which shall be the
day following the last date for decision of appeals;
(g) the last date for the withdrawal of candidature, which shall be the day following
the last date of publication of revised list of candidates or, if that day is a public
holiday, the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday; and
(h) the date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken, which shall be a date not
earlier than the seventh day after the publication of the revised list of candidates.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 25.
Page 63 of 122
(3) A Returning Officer shall, within three days after the publication of a notification under
sub-section (1), give public notice of the dates specified by the Commission in respect of election to
the Senate from a Province 1[or the Islamabad Capital Territory], as the case may be, of which he is
the Returning Officer and the public notice shall be published at some prominent place in his office.
(4) A Returning Officer shall, by the public notice given under subsection (3), invite
nominations specifying the time by which and the place at which nomination papers shall be received
by him.
108. Supply of list of voters.—The Commission shall provide the Returning Officer with a list
of voters for election to the Senate from a Province 1[or the Islamabad Capital Territory], as the case
may be.
109. Polling station.—The Commission shall provide a polling station for the purpose of
election of the Members of the Senate by the Members of each Provincial Assembly 1[or the National
Assembly], as the case may be.
110. Nomination for election.—(1) A voter may propose or second the name of any person
qualified for election to the Senate from a Province 1[or the Islamabad Capital Territory], as the case
may be.
(2) Every nomination shall be made by a separate nomination paper on Form A signed both
by the proposer and the seconder and shall, on solemn affirmation, be made and signed by the candidate
and shall be accompanied by—
(a) a declaration that he has consented to the nomination and that he fulfills the
qualifications specified in Article 62 and is not subject to any of the
disqualifications specified in Article 63 for being elected as a Member of the
Senate;
(b) a declaration that he is a technocrat or aalim, if the nomination papers are filed
for a seat reserved for technocrat or aalim;
(c) a declaration that he has opened an exclusive account 1[or dedicated an existing
account] with a scheduled bank for the purpose of election expenses;
(d) an attested copy of his National Identity Card; and
(e) a statement of his assets and liabilities and of his spouse and dependent children
as on the preceding thirtieth day of June on Form B.
(3) Every nomination paper shall be delivered to the Returning Officer by the candidate or by
his proposer or seconder or if so authorized in writing by the candidate, by his nominee and the
Returning Officer shall acknowledge receipt of the nomination paper specifying the date and time of
receipt.
1
Subs. and ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 25-28.
Page 64 of 122
(4) A person may be nominated by not more than five nomination papers.
(5) Every nomination paper shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the relevant extract
from the electoral rolls in which the name of the person nominated is enrolled.
(6) The Returning Officer shall assign a serial number to every nomination paper and endorse
on it the name of the person presenting it and the date and time of its receipt, and inform such person
of the time and place at which he shall hold scrutiny of the nomination papers.
(7) The Returning Officer shall cause to be affixed at a conspicuous place in his office a notice
of every nomination paper containing the particulars of the candidates as shown in the nomination
paper.
(8) The Form and accompanying declarations and statements shall be open to inspection by the
public, and the Commission shall make available copies of these documents in such manner and on
payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
111. Deposit.—(1) Subject to sub-section (2), the Returning Officer shall not accept a
nomination paper unless—
(a) a sum of twenty thousand rupees is deposited in cash by the candidate or by any
person on his behalf at the time of its delivery; or
(b) it is accompanied by a receipt showing that a sum as aforesaid has been
deposited by the candidate or by any person on his behalf at any branch of the
National Bank of Pakistan or at a Government Treasury or sub-Treasury.
(2) Not more than one deposit under sub-section (1) shall be required in the case of a person
who has been nominated as a candidate by more than one nomination paper.
(3) The sum deposited shall be non-refundable.
112. Scrutiny.—(1) The candidates, their proposers and seconders, and an agent authorized
in writing in this behalf by each candidate, may attend the scrutiny of the nomination papers and the
Returning Officer shall give them reasonable opportunity for examining all the nomination papers.
(2) The Returning Officer shall, in the presence of the persons attending the scrutiny under sub-
section (1), examine the nomination papers and decide any objection raised by any such person to any
nomination.
(3) The Returning Officer may, for the purpose of scrutiny, require any agency, authority or
organization, including a financial institution, to produce any document or record or to furnish any
such information as may be necessary to determine facts relating to an objection to the candidature of
a candidate.
(4) The Returning Officer, while scrutinizing nomination paper of a candidate, shall not ask any
question which—
Page 65 of 122
(a) has no nexus with the information supplied in the nomination paper; or
(b) has not arisen from the objections raised by any person or from information
received under sub-section (3).
(5) The declaration submitted under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 110 shall only be
questioned by the Returning Officer if tangible material to the contrary is available on record.
(6) The Returning Officer may, either on his own motion or upon any objection, conduct such
summary enquiry as he may think fit and reject a nomination paper if he is satisfied that—
(a) the candidate is not qualified to be elected as a Member;
(b) the proposer or the seconder is not qualified to subscribe to the nomination
paper;
(c) any provision of section 110 or section 111 has not been complied with or the
declaration or statement submitted by the candidate is false or incorrect in any
material particular; or
(d) the signature of the proposer or seconder is not genuine:
Provided that—
(i) the rejection of a nomination paper shall not invalidate the nomination of a
candidate by any other valid nomination paper;
(ii) the Returning Officer shall not reject a nomination paper on the ground of any
defect which is not of a substantial nature and may allow any such defect to be
remedied forthwith; and
(iii) the Returning Officer shall not inquire into the correctness or validity of any
entry in the electoral roll.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (8), where a candidate deposits any
amount of loan, tax or government dues and utility expenses payable by him of which he is unaware
at the time of filing of his nomination paper such nomination paper shall not be rejected on the ground
of default in payment of such loan, taxes or government dues and utility expenses:
Provided that where the Returning Officer is satisfied that the candidate has willfully
concealed such loan, tax or government dues and utility expenses, he shall reject his nomination paper.
(8) The Returning Officer shall endorse on each nomination paper his decision accepting or
rejecting it and shall, in the case of rejection, record a brief statement of the reasons his decision.
113. Appeal against scrutiny order.—(1) A candidate or an objector may, within the time
specified by the Commission, file an appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer rejecting or,
as the case may be, accepting a nomination paper to the Tribunal constituted for the purpose consisting
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of a person who is a Judge of a High Court, appointed by the Commission in consultation with the
Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
(2) An appeal filed under sub-section (1) shall be summarily decided within such time as may
be notified by the Commission and any order passed on the appeal shall be final.
(3) If, on the basis of information or material coming to its knowledge by any source, a Tribunal
constituted under sub-section (1) is of the opinion that a candidate whose nomination paper has been
accepted is a defaulter of loans, taxes, government dues and utility expenses or has had any loan written
off or has willfully concealed such fact or suffers from any other disqualification from being elected
as a Member of the Senate, it may, on its own motion, call upon such candidate to show cause why his
nomination papers may not be rejected, and if the Tribunal is satisfied that the candidate is actually a
defaulter or has had a loan written off or suffers from any disqualification, it may reject the nomination
paper of the candidate.
(4) Announcement of the day and time appointed for the hearing of an appeal under this section
over the radio or television or by publication in the newspaper shall be deemed to be sufficient notice
of the day and time so appointed.
114. Publication of list of candidates.—(1) The Returning Officer shall, after the scrutiny of
nomination papers, prepare and display in the prescribed manner a list of validly nominated candidates.
(2) In case an appeal against rejection or, as the case may be, acceptance of a nomination paper,
is accepted by the Tribunal, the list of validly nominated candidates shall be revised accordingly.
(3) The Commission shall publish the list of validly nominated candidates under this section
on its website.
115. Withdrawal.—(1) A validly nominated candidate may, by notice in writing signed by
him and delivered to the Returning Officer on or before the last date for withdrawal either by the
candidate himself or by an agent authorized in writing by the candidate, withdraw his candidature.
Explanation.—Authorization in favour of an agent or advocate shall be attested by a Notary
appointed under the Notaries Ordinance 1961 (XIX of 1961) or an Oath Commissioner appointed
under the Oaths Act, 1873 (X of 1873) or a Government servant in basic pay scale 17 and above.
(2) A notice of withdrawal under sub-section (1) shall, in no circumstances, be open to recall
or cancellation.
(3) On receiving a notice of withdrawal under sub-section (1), the Returning Officer shall, if
he is satisfied that the signature on the notice is that of the candidate, cause a copy of the notice to be
affixed at a conspicuous place in his office.
(4) The Returning Officer shall, on the day next following the withdrawal day, prepare and
publish in the prescribed manner a list of contesting candidates and forward a copy of the list to each
candidate, giving public notice of the date, hour and place of the poll.
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(5) The Returning Officer shall publish the notice, list of contesting candidates and public
notice of the date, hour and place of the poll under sub-sections (3) and (4) on the website of the
Commission.
116. Death of a candidate after nomination.—(1) If a validly nominated candidate who has
not withdrawn his candidature dies before the day for taking of the poll, the Returning Officer shall,
by public notice, terminate the proceedings for election to the category of seats for which he had filed
the nomination papers and make a report to the Commission.
(2) Where the proceedings relating to an election have been terminated under sub-section (1),
proceedings for fresh election shall be commenced in accordance with the provisions of this Act as if
for a new election:
Provided that it shall not be necessary for other contesting candidates who have already filed
nomination papers to file fresh nomination papers or make a further deposit under section 111.
117. Postponement under certain circumstances.—Where the proceedings relating to
nomination, scrutiny or withdrawal cannot, for reasons beyond the control of the Returning Officer, to
be recorded in writing, take place on the day appointed for the purpose, he may postpone or adjourn
such proceedings and shall, with the approval of the Commission, by public notice fix another day for
the proceedings so postponed or adjourned, and, if necessary, also the day or days for any subsequent
proceedings.
118. Uncontested election.— 1[(1) Where, after scrutiny of nomination papers or withdrawal
under section 115, the number of validly nominated candidates or, as the case may be, the contesting
candidates from a Province or Islamabad Capital Territory is less than or equal to the number of seats
to be filled for that Province or Islamabad Capital Territory, as the case may be, the Returning Officer
shall, by public notice, declare such candidates to be elected to the seats and send a return of election
to the Commission.]
(2) The Returning Officer shall not declare any candidate elected uncontested under sub-
section (1) until the period appointed for filing of appeal against the decision of scrutiny of nomination
papers has expired and where an appeal is filed, until the disposal of the appeal.
(3) The Commission shall publish in the official Gazette the names of the returned candidates.
(4) Where the number of candidates declared elected under sub-section (1) is less than the
number of seats to be filled, fresh proceedings shall be commenced in accordance with the provisions
of this Act, as if for a new election, to fill the vacant seat or seats.
119. Contested election.—If after withdrawals, if any, the number of candidates exceeds the
number of seats, the Returning Officer shall, on the appointed day, conduct the poll, after giving a
notice of the poll to the contesting candidates.
______________________________________________________________________________
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 29.
Page 68 of 122
120. Hours of poll.—The Returning Officer shall, subject to any direction of the Commission,
fix the hours during which the poll shall be taken and give public notice of the hours fixed for the poll.
121. Adjourned poll.—(1) If at any time the poll is interrupted or obstructed for reasons
beyond the control of the Returning Officer, he may stop the poll and shall inform the Commission of
his having done so.
(2) Where a poll is stopped under sub-section (1), the Returning Officer shall immediately
report the circumstances to the Commission and appoint, with the approval of the Commission, a day
for a fresh poll and fix the place at which, and the hours during which such fresh poll shall be taken.
(3) All voters shall be allowed to vote at the fresh poll taken under sub-section (2) and a vote
cast at the poll stopped under sub-section (1) shall not be counted.
122. Voting procedure.—(1) All voters shall be entitled to vote at an election.
(2) No vote shall be given by proxy.
(3) Each voter shall have only one transferable vote for each category of seats irrespective of
the number of seats to be filled for such category 1[.]
1
[* * * * * * *]
1
[(4) A voter shall cast his vote in the prescribed manner.]
(5) The ballot papers shall be in such form as the Commission may specify.
(6) The poll for election of Members of the Senate shall be held by secret ballot.
123. Proceedings at the close of poll.— (1) Immediately after the close of poll, the Returning
Officer shall proceed with the counting of votes in the prescribed manner.
(2) On the completion of counting, the Returning Officer shall prepare and certify a return of
the election and submit the same to the Commission in the prescribed manner.
(3) Every returned candidate shall, within five days from the date of election, submit return
of election expenses in accordance with the provisions of section 134.
124. Declaration of result of election.— On receipt of the returns of the election, the
Commission shall publish in the official Gazette and on its website the names of the returned
candidates:
1
Subs. and omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 30.
Page 69 of 122
Provided that the name of a candidate shall not be published who fails to submit the return of
election expenses.
125. Appeal against count.—(1) A contesting candidate who is aggrieved by any proceedings
relating to the count of votes may file an appeal challenging the count to the Commission.
(2) An appeal under sub-section (1) may be filed by the candidate in person or through a
person authorized in writing by the candidate in this behalf, within three days next following the date
of the completion of the count of votes by the Returning Officer.
(3) The appeal shall be addressed to the Commission and filed with the Secretary of the
Commission.
(4) The appeal shall be in the form of a memorandum which shall state the grounds for such
appeal and shall be accompanied by copies of receipts to the effect that the appellant has served a copy
of the appeal personally or by registered post to each contesting candidate.
(5) The Commission may, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard—
(a) dismiss the appeal; or
(b) determine the result of the election on the count of valid votes as corrected, after
adjudicating upon the invalid votes, if any, and make such consequential order
as may be necessary.
(6) The decision of the Commission on appeal under sub-section (5) shall be final.
(7) No question that can be settled in an appeal under this section shall be raised by an election
petition or before any court or authority whatsoever, nor shall any question that can be raised by an
election petition be raised before any court or authority other than the Election Tribunal.
126. Commission to have certain powers of a court.—For the purpose of the disposal of an
appeal, the Commission shall have the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) when trying a suit in respect of the following matters—
(a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) compelling the discovery and production of documents, articles or things;
(c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses;
(d) requiring the deposit of diet and travelling expenses of witnesses;
(e) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(f) granting adjournments; and
(g) summoning and examining, on its own motion, any person whose evidence
appears to be material.
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127. Casual vacancy.—(1) When, before the expiration of the term of the office of a Member
elected to the Senate, his seat becomes vacant or is declared vacant or his election to the Senate is
declared void, the Commission shall, by notification in the official Gazette, call upon the Members of
the Provincial Assembly 1[or the National Assembly], as the case may be, to elect a person for the
purpose of filling the vacancy on such date as may be specified in the notification; and the provisions
of this Act and the Rules shall apply, in relation to the election of a Member to fill the vacancy.
(2) When the seats of two or more Members, who were elected to the Senate by a Provincial
Assembly, 1[or the National Assembly], become vacant, as the case may be, and whose term of office
was due to expire on the same day become vacant simultaneously, elections to fill such seats may be
held together.
(3) When the seats of two or more Members, who were elected to the Senate by a Provincial
Assembly 1[or the National Assembly] and whose term of office was due to expire on different dates
become vacant simultaneously, elections to fill such seats may be held separately.
128. Extension of time for completion of election.—The Commission may, for reasons which
it considers sufficient, extend the time for completion of an election to the Senate by making necessary
amendments in the notification issued under section 107.
129. Term of office.—(1) The term of office of a Member of the Senate shall commence on
the date of the first meeting of the Senate held after the names of the persons elected to the Senate are
notified by the Commission.
(2) If a candidate is elected as Member of the Senate on a seat which has become vacant or a
seat declared vacant or a seat where election of a Member of the Senate is declared void and another
candidate is declared to have been elected in his place, the term of such candidate shall be the unexpired
term of such Member.
(3) If the election of all the Members declared elected under this Chapter is declared void, the
term of the Members elected in their places shall be the unexpired term of the Members whose election
is declared void.
1
[130. Vacancy in electoral college not to invalidate election.— An election of a Member
of the Senate by the Members of a Provincial Assembly or Members of the National Assembly, as
the case may be, shall not be called in question on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy
in the membership of the Assembly.]
130. Drawing of lots.— (1) For the purpose of dividing the Members into two groups, the
Commission shall draw lots in the prescribed manner and in the presence of such Members or persons
authorized by them in writing as may be present, after notifying in the official Gazette the time and
place of drawing of lots.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 31-32.
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(2) The term of office of each Member determined under sub-section (1) shall be notified by
the Commission in the official Gazette.
(3) If the election of a Member whose term of office is determined under sub-section (1) is
declared void and another candidate is declared elected in his place, the term of such candidate shall
be the unexpired term of such member.
(4) If the election of all the Members is declared void, the Members elected in their place shall
be divided into two groups and the term of their office shall be determined and notified in the manner
specified in sub-sections (1) and (2):
Provided that the term of office of the Members so elected shall be the unexpired term of the
Members of the respective groups.
CHAPTER VIII
ELECTION EXPENSES AND STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
132. Restriction on election expenses.—(1) The election expenses of a candidate shall
include the expenses incurred by any person or a political party on behalf of the candidate or incurred
by a political party specifically for the candidate 1[from the date of filing of his nomination papers till
the date of issue of the final consolidated result under section 95].
(2) Where any person incurs any election expenses on behalf of a candidate, whether for
stationery, postage, advertisement, transport or for any other item, such expenses shall be deemed to
be the election expenses incurred by the candidate himself.
(3) The election expenses of a contesting candidate shall not exceed—
(a) one million and five hundred thousand rupees for election to a seat in the Senate;
1
(b) [ten] million rupees for election to a seat in the National Assembly; and
1
(c) [four] million rupees for election to a seat in a Provincial Assembly.
(4) A candidate shall, through bills, receipts and other documents, vouch for every payment
made in respect of election expenses, except where the amount is less than one thousand rupees.
(5) If election expenses of a candidate are disputed, the Commission may conduct an enquiry
to ascertain whether the election expenses, incurred by any person other than the candidate, were
incurred with his permission and if the expenses were incurred without his permission, it would not be
deemed to be election expenses on behalf of the candidate.
133. Bank account for election expenses.—(1) For purposes of his election expenses, a
candidate shall open an exclusive 1[account or dedicated his existing] account with any branch of a
scheduled bank before the date fixed for scrutiny of nomination papers and maintain, or cause to be
maintained, a register of receipts and expenditures.
1
Ins. and subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 33-34.
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(2) A candidate shall not make any transaction towards the election expenses through an account
other than the account opened 1[or dedicated under sub-section (1)] for the purpose.
(3) A candidate may open 1[or dedicate] the bank account for election expenses with an amount
not exceeding the limit of election expenses provided under section 132 1[:]
1
[Provided that if a candidate intends to use his existing account for the purpose, he shall
submit statement of account to the Returning Officer at the time of filing of nomination papers:
Provided further that any transaction other than the election expenses shall not be made
through the exclusively opened or dedicated existing account from filing of nomination papers till
filing of return of election expenses.]
134. Return of election expenses.—(1) A contesting candidate, other than the returned
candidate, shall submit the return of his election expenses on Form C within thirty days of the
publication of the name of the returned candidate.
(2) The return of election expenses of the returned candidate and a contesting candidate shall
be submitted to the Returning Officer on Form C.
135. Inspection of returns.—(1) Immediately on receipt, the returns and documents
submitted under section 134, shall be sent by the Returning Officer to the Commission and shall, for
a period of one year from the date of receipt by it, be open to inspection by any person on payment of
the prescribed fee.
(2) The Commission shall, on an application made in this behalf and on payment of the
prescribed fee, give any person copies of any return or document or any part thereof kept under sub-
section (1).
136. Action relating to election expenses.—(1) The Commission shall, in accordance with
such procedure as may be prescribed but within ninety days from the date of submission of a return of
election expenses, scrutinize or cause to be scrutinized the return of election expenses submitted by
each contesting candidate including the returned candidate.
(2) If the Commission fails to finalize scrutiny of any return of election expenses within ninety
days under sub-section (1), the return of election expenses shall be deemed to be scrutinized and
accepted as correct.
(3) Where after scrutiny of returns under sub-section (1), the Commission is of the view that a
candidate has acted in contravention of the provisions of section 132, the Commission shall direct an
authorized officer to file a complaint against such candidate for committing the offence of corrupt
practice.
(4) Where a contesting candidate fails to file requisite returns within the specified period, the
Returning Officer shall cause a notice to be issued to such candidate calling upon him to show cause
why proceedings may not be initiated against him for failure to file requisite returns and if despite
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1
Ins. and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 34.
Page 73 of 122
service of notice, he does not comply with the provisions of section 134, the Returning Officer shall
report the matter to the Commission.
(5) On receipt of report under sub-section (4), the Commission shall issue notice calling upon
the candidate to show cause as to why a complaint may not be filed against him for failure to file
requisite returns.
(6) The candidate may file an application for condonation of delay in filing the returns along
with the return and the Commission may condone the delay, if it is satisfied that such failure was made
in good faith due to circumstances beyond the control of the candidate, and accept the return.
(7) In case of rejection of application for condonation of delay under sub-section (6), the
Commission shall direct an authorized officer to file a complaint against such candidate for committing
the offence of illegal practice.
137. Submission of statement of assets and liabilities.—(1) Every Member of an Assembly
and Senate shall submit to the Commission, on or before 31st December each year, a copy of his
statement of assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities of his spouse and dependent children
as on the preceding thirtieth day of June on Form B.
(2) The Commission, on the first day of January each year through a press release, shall publish
the names of Members who failed to submit the requisite statement of assets and liabilities within the
period specified under sub-section (1).
(3) The Commission shall, on the sixteenth day of January, by an order suspend the
membership of a Member of an Assembly and Senate who fails to submit the statement of assets and
liabilities by the fifteenth day of January and such Member shall cease to function till he files the
statement of assets and liabilities.
(4) Where a Member submits the statement of assets and liabilities under this section
which is found to be false in material particulars, he may, within one hundred and twenty days
from the date submission of the statement, be proceeded against for committing the offence of corrupt
practice.
138. Publication of statement of assets and liabilities.—The Commission shall publish in the
official Gazette the statements of assets and liabilities received by it under section 137 and any person
may obtain copies of a statement of assets and liabilities on payment of prescribed fee.
CHAPTER IX
ELECTION DISPUTES
139. Election petition.—(1) No election shall be called in question except by an election
petition filed by a candidate for that election.
(2) In this Chapter—
(a) ‘corrupt or illegal practice’ means a ‘corrupt practice’ or an ‘illegal practice’ as
defined in Chapter X;
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(b) ‘petitioner’ means the candidate who has filed an election petition; and
(c) ‘respondent’ means a person joined as respondent in the election petition under
section 143.
140. Appointment of Election Tribunals.—(1) For the trial of election petitions under this
Act, the Commission shall appoint as many Election Tribunals as may be necessary for swift disposal
of election petitions.
(2) An Election Tribunal shall comprise—
(a) in the case of an election to an Assembly or the Senate, a person who is 1[or has
been] 2[* * *] a Judge of a High Court; and
(b) in the case of an election to a local government 1[a person who is or has been],
a District and Sessions Judge or 1[a person who is or has been] an Additional
District and Sessions Judge.
1
[(3) In case of appointment of a sitting Judge as the Election Tribunal, the Commission shall
consult with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.]
141. Powers of the Election Tribunal.—(1) The Election Tribunal shall have all the powers
of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908), and shall be
deemed to be a civil court within the meaning of sections 476, 480 and 482 of the Code.
(2) For the purpose of enforcing attendance of witnesses, the local limits of the jurisdiction of
the Election Tribunal shall be the territories to which this Act extends.
142. Presentation of petition.—(1) An election petition shall be presented to the Election
Tribunal within forty-five days of the publication in the official Gazette of the name of the returned
candidate and shall be accompanied by a receipt showing that the petitioner has deposited at any branch
of the National Bank of Pakistan or at a Government Treasury or Sub-Treasury in favour of the
Commission, under the prescribed head of account, as security for the costs of the petition, such
amount as may be prescribed.
(2) An election petition shall be deemed to have been presented—
(a) when delivered to the Election Tribunal appointed under section 140—
(i) by the petitioner in person; or
(ii) by a person authorized in writing in this behalf by the petitioner; or
(b) when sent by registered post or courier service to the Election Tribunal by the
petitioner.
1
Ins. and subs. by Act No. XI of 2024, s. 2.
2
Omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 35.
Page 75 of 122
(3) An election petition, if sent by registered post or courier service, shall be deemed to have
been presented in time if it is posted or sent within the period specified in sub-section (1).
143. Parties to the petition.—(1) The petitioner shall join as respondents to his election
petition all other contesting candidates.
(2) The Election Tribunal may direct the petitioner to join any other person as respondent
against whom any specific allegation of contravention of this Act has been made.
(3) The petitioner shall serve a copy of the election petition with all annexures on each
respondent, personally or by registered post or courier service, before or at the time of filing the
election petition.
144. Contents of petition.—(1) An election petition shall contain—
(a) a precise statement of the material facts on which the petitioner relies; and
(b) full particulars of any corrupt or illegal practice or other illegal act alleged to
have been committed, including names of the parties who are alleged to have
committed such corrupt or illegal practice or illegal act and the date and place
of the commission of such practice or act.
(2) The following documents shall be attached with the petition—
(a) complete list of witnesses and their statements on affidavits;
(b) documentary evidence relied upon by the petitioner in support of allegations
referred to in 1[clause (b) of sub-section (1)];
(c) affidavit of service to the effect that a copy of the petition along with copies of
all annexures, including list of witnesses, affidavits and documentary evidence,
have been sent to all the respondents by registered post or courier service; and
(d) the relief claimed by the petitioner.
(3) A petitioner may claim as relief any of the following declarations—
(a) that the election of the returned candidate is void and petitioner or some other
candidate has been elected; or
(b) that the election of the returned candidate is partially void and that fresh poll be
ordered in one or more polling stations; or
(c) that the election as a whole is void and fresh poll be conducted in the entire
constituency.
1
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 36.
Page 76 of 122
(4) An election petition and its annexures shall be signed by the petitioner and the petition
shall be verified in the manner laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) for the
verification of pleadings.
145. Procedure before the Election Tribunal.—(1) If any provision of section 142, 143 or
144 has not been complied with, the Election Tribunal shall summarily reject the election petition.
(2) If an election petition is not rejected under sub-section (1), the Election Tribunal shall issue
notice to each of the respondents through—
(a) registered post acknowledgement due;
(b) courier service or urgent mail service;
(c) any electronic mode of communication, which may include radio, television,
email and short message service (sms);
(d) affixing a copy of the notice at some conspicuous part of the house, if any, in
which the respondent is known to have last resided or at a place where the
respondent is known to have last carried on business or personally worked for
gain;
(e) publication in two widely circulated daily newspapers at the cost of the
petitioner; and
(f) any other manner or mode as the Tribunal may deem fit.
146. Appearance before Election Tribunal.—(1) Any appearance, application or act before
an Election Tribunal may be made or done by a party in person or by an advocate or any other person
entitled or allowed to plead in a civil court and duly appointed to act on his behalf:
Provided that the Tribunal may, where it considers it necessary, direct any party to appear in
person.
(2) If a respondent fails to appear before the Election Tribunal on a date of hearing despite
service of notice through any one of the modes mentioned in section 145, the Tribunal shall proceed
against the respondent ex-parte.
147. Contents of reply.—(1) The reply by a respondent to an election petition shall contain a
precise statement of the material facts on which the respondent relies to rebut the allegations in the
election petition.
(2) The respondent shall, amongst others, attach the following documents with the reply—
(a) complete list of witnesses and their statements on affidavits; and
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(b) documentary evidence relied upon by the respondent to rebut the allegations in
the election petition.
(3) In addition to dismissal of the election petition, the respondent may claim costs of the
proceedings as well as award of special costs if the election petition is held to be frivolous or vexatious.
148. Procedure before Election Tribunal for trial of petitions.— (1) Subject to this Act and
the Rules, the trial of an election petition 1[shall be,] as nearly as possible, in accordance with the
procedure applicable under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) to the trial of suits and
the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (President’s Order. No. X of 1984).
(2) The Election Tribunal shall, unless it directs otherwise for reasons to be recorded, order any
or all the facts to be proved or disproved by affidavit and may, for the purposes of expeditious disposal,
apply such other procedure as the circumstances of the case may warrant.
(3) 1[* * * * * * *]
(4) On filing of reply by the respondent, the Election Tribunal may, with the consent of parties,
fix specific dates for trial and disposal of the petition, providing for continuous hearing without
adjournment.
1
[(5) If the parties do not consent to specific dates under sub-section (4), the Election Tribunal
shall proceed with the trial of the election petition on day-to-day basis and no adjournment shall be
granted to any party for more than seven days and that too on payment of one hundred thousand rupees
and the election petition shall be decided within one hundred and eighty days of its filing.]
(6) If an election petition is not finally decided within one hundred and 1[eighty] days—
(a) further adjournment sought by a party shall be granted only on payment of
special costs 1[ranging from ten thousand to fifty] thousand rupees per
adjournment and adjournment shall not be granted for more than three days;
(b) if the Election Tribunal itself adjourns the election petition, it shall record
reasons for such adjournment;
(c) where the delay in the proceedings is occasioned by any act or omission of a
returned candidate or any other person acting on his behalf, the Election
Tribunal itself or on application of the aggrieved party, may, after issuance of
show cause notice to the returned candidate and within fifteen days of the date
of show cause notice, order that the returned candidate has ceased to perform
the functions of his office either till the conclusion of the proceedings or for
such period as the Tribunal may direct; and
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1
Subs. and omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 37.
Page 78 of 122
(d) if a serving Judge is the Election Tribunal, the Commission shall request the
Chief Justice of the High Court that no judicial work other than election
petitions should, to the extent practicable, be entrusted to him till the final
disposal of the election petitions.
(7) The Election Tribunal may, for reasons to be recorded, refuse to examine any witness if it
is of the opinion that the evidence of such witness is not material for the decision of the election petition
or that the party on whose behalf such witness has been summoned has done so on frivolous grounds
or with a view to delaying the proceedings.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, no document shall be inadmissible
in evidence at the trial of an election petition only on the ground that it is not properly stamped or
registered under the relevant law.
(9) A witness shall not be excused from answering any question as to any matter in issue or
relevant to a matter in issue in the trial of an election petition upon the ground that the answer to such
question may incriminate or tend to incriminate him or that it may expose or tend to expose him to any
penalty or forfeiture, but a witness shall not be required or permitted to state for whom he has voted at
an election.
(10) A witness who truly answers all questions which he is required to answer may be granted
a certificate of indemnity by the Election Tribunal and an answer given by him to a question put by or
before the Tribunal shall not, except in the case of any criminal proceeding for perjury in respect of
his evidence, be admissible in evidence against him in any civil or criminal proceedings.
(11) A certificate of indemnity granted to any witness under sub-section (10) may be pleaded
by him in any court and shall be a full and complete defence to or upon any charge under Chapter IXA
of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act LXV of 1860) or under this Act, arising out of the matters to
which such certificate relates, but it shall not be deemed to relieve him from any disqualification in
connection with an election imposed by any law.
(12) The Election Tribunal shall direct any party to pay reasonable expenses incurred by any
person in attending the Tribunal to give evidence and shall, unless the Tribunal otherwise directs, be
deemed to be part of the costs.
149. Amendment of petition.—(1) The Election Tribunal may, at any time before the
commencement of recording of evidence and upon such terms and on payment of such costs as it may
direct, allow the petitioner to amend the election petition in such manner as may, in its opinion, be
necessary for ensuring a fair and effective trial and for determining the real questions at issue but shall
not permit raising of a new ground of challenge to the election through such amendment.
(2) At any time during the trial of an election petition, the Election Tribunal may call upon the
petitioner to deposit such further sum by way of security, in addition to the sum deposited under section
142 as it may deem fit and shall dismiss the election petition, if the petitioner fails to make the further
deposit.
150. Place of trial.—The trial of an election petition shall be held at such place or places as the
Tribunal may think fit.
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151. Power to transfer petition.—The Commission may at any stage, on its own motion or
on an application of a party and for reasons to be recorded, transfer an election petition from one
Election Tribunal to another Election Tribunal and the Election Tribunal to which the election petition
is transferred—
(a) shall proceed with the trial of the election petition from the stage from which it
is transferred; and
(b) may, if it deems fit, recall and examine any witness who has already been
examined.
152. Advocate-General to assist the Election Tribunal.—The Advocate-General for a
Province shall, if an Election Tribunal requires, assist the Tribunal at the hearing of an election petition
in such manner as it may require.
153. Recrimination where seat is claimed.—(1) Where in an election petition a declaration
is claimed that a candidate other than the returned candidate has been elected, the returned candidate
or any other respondent may produce evidence to prove that the election of such other candidate would
have been declared void had he been the returned candidate and had a petition been presented calling
his election in question.
(2) The Election Tribunal shall not allow the returned candidate or other respondent to produce
evidence under sub-section (1) unless he has, within the fourteen days next following the
commencement of the trial, given notice to the Tribunal of his intention to produce such evidence and
has also deposited the amount under section 142.
(3) Every notice referred to in sub-section (2) shall be accompanied by a statement of the case,
and all the provisions relating to the contents, verification, trial and procedure of an election petition,
or to the security deposit in respect of an election petition, shall apply to such a statement as if it were
an election petition.
154. Decision of the Election Tribunal.—(1) The Election Tribunal may, upon the
conclusion of the trial of an election petition, make an order—
(a) dismissing the petition;
(b) declaring—
(i) the election of the returned candidate to be void and directing that fresh
poll be held in one or more polling stations;
(ii) the election of the returned candidate to be void and the petitioner or any
other contesting candidate to have been elected; or
(iii) the election as a whole to be void and directing that fresh election be
held in the entire constituency.
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(2) Save as provided in section 155, the decision of an Election Tribunal on an election petition
shall be final.
155. Appeal against decision of Election Tribunal.—(1) Any person aggrieved by the final
decision of the Election Tribunal in respect of an election petition challenging election to an Assembly
or Senate may, within thirty days of the date of the decision, appeal to the Supreme Court.
(2) Any person aggrieved by the final decision of the Election Tribunal in respect of an election
petition challenging election to a local government, may, within thirty days of the date of the decision,
appeal to the High Court having jurisdiction and the decision of the High Court on such appeal shall
be final.
1
[(3) An appeal under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be decided within one hundred and eighty
days:
Provided that an injunctive order if passed shall stand vacated automatically if the
appeal is not decided by the High Court or the Supreme Court, as the case may be, within one hundred
and eighty days.]
156. Ground for declaring election of returned candidate void.—(1) The Election Tribunal
shall declare the election of the returned candidate to be void if—
(a) the nomination of the returned candidate was invalid; or
(b) the returned candidate was not, on the nomination day, qualified for, or was
disqualified from, being elected as a Member; or
(c) the election of the returned candidate has been procured or induced by any
corrupt or illegal practice; or
(d) a corrupt or illegal practice has been committed by the returned candidate or his
election agent or by any other person with the consent or connivance of the
candidate or his election agent.
(2) If the contravention or corrupt or illegal practice is proved at a polling station, the Election
Tribunal may, while declaring election of the returned candidate void, direct re-poll at the polling
station.
(3) The election of a returned candidate shall not be declared void on the ground—
(a) that any corrupt or illegal practice has been committed, if the Election Tribunal is
satisfied that it was not committed by or with the consent or connivance of that
candidate or his election agent and that the candidate and the election agent took
all reasonable precaution to prevent its commission; or
1
Added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 38.
Page 81 of 122
(b) that any of the other contesting candidates was, on the nomination day not
qualified for or was disqualified from, being elected as a Member.
157. Ground for declaring a person other than a returned candidate elected.—The
Election Tribunal shall declare the election of the returned candidate to be void and the petitioner or
any other contesting candidate to have been elected, if it is claimed by the petitioner or any of the
respondents, and the Tribunal is satisfied that—
(a) the petitioner or other contesting candidate obtained more votes than the
returned candidate; or
(b) the voters deliberately threw away their votes in favour of the returned
candidate fully knowing that the returned candidate was not, on the nomination
day, qualified for, or was disqualified from, being elected as a Member.
Explanation.—The Election Tribunal shall presume, unless the contrary is proved, that the
voters have not deliberately thrown away their votes and were not aware of lack of qualification or
disqualification of the returned candidate.
158. Ground for declaring election as a whole void.—1[(1)] The Election Tribunal shall
declare the election as a whole to be void if it is satisfied that the result of the election has been
materially affected by reason of—
(a) the failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or the Rules in connivance
with the returned candidate; or
(b) the prevalence of extensive corrupt or illegal practices at the election.
1
[(2) If the Election Tribunal finds that the failure to comply with this Act or the rules
mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (1) is due to negligence of one or more Presiding Officers or
the Returning Officers and not in connivance with the returned candidate, it shall direct the
Commission to initiate criminal proceedings against the negligent Presiding Officers or Returning
Officers under section 184 read with section 188, as well as disciplinary proceedings against them
under section 55 and pending final decision in these proceedings, remuneration due to them in
connection with the election shall be withheld.]
159. Decision in case of equality of votes.—(1) In case of election to an Assembly, where,
after the conclusion of the trial there is an equality of votes between two contesting candidates, the
Election Tribunal shall declare both the candidates as returned candidates and each one of them shall
be entitled to represent his constituency in the Assembly for half of its term of office.
(2) The Election Tribunal shall draw a lot in respect of returned candidates referred to in sub-
section (1) to determine as to who shall serve as Member of the Assembly for the first half of its term
of office and shall take into account the period any returned candidate has already served as Member
of the Assembly after the election.
1
Numbered and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 39.
Page 82 of 122
(3) Before proceeding to draw a lot under sub-section (2), the Election Tribunal shall give
notice to the contesting candidates between whom there is equality of votes and shall proceed to draw
a lot on the date, time and place stated in the notice:
Provided that if the contesting candidates are present when it appears that there is an equality
of votes between them, the Election Tribunal may proceed forthwith to draw a lot without giving
notice.
(4) The Election Tribunal shall keep a record of the proceedings of draw of lot under this section
and obtain signatures of such candidates and their agents who witnessed the proceedings, and if any
such person refuses to sign, such fact shall be recorded.
(5) On receipt of the declaration under sub-section (1), the Commission shall notify the name
of the candidate in the official Gazette on whom the lot drawn under sub-section (2) had fallen.
(6) Where there is equality of votes among more than two contesting candidates at the
conclusion of the trial, the Election Tribunal shall order fresh election in the constituency on a date to
be determined by the Commission but not later than sixty days from the date of order of the Tribunal.
160. Other provisions relating to the Election Tribunal.—(1) An order of the Election
Tribunal under section 154 shall take effect on the date on which it is made and shall be communicated
to the Commission and the Commission shall publish it in the official Gazette.
(2) The Election Tribunal shall, after an election petition has been disposed of, forward the
record of the election petition to the Commission which shall retain it for a period of five years from
the date of its receipt or till the disposal of appeal against the decision of the Tribunal, if any, and shall
thereafter cause it to be destroyed.
161. Withdrawal of petition.—(1) The petitioner may, with the leave of the Election
Tribunal, withdraw the election petition.
(2) Where leave to withdraw is granted under sub-section (1), the Election Tribunal shall order
the petitioner to pay the costs or a portion of the costs incurred by the respondents.
162. Abatement on death of petitioner.—(1) An election petition shall abate on the death of
a sole petitioner or of the sole survivor of several petitioners.
(2) Where an election petition abates under sub-section (1), the Election Tribunal shall serve
notice of the abatement on the Commission.
163. Death or withdrawal of respondent.—If, before the conclusion of the trial of an election
petition, a respondent dies or gives notice in the prescribed form that he does not intend to contest the
petition, and no respondent remains to contest the petition, the Election Tribunal shall, without any
further hearing, or after giving such person as it may think fit an opportunity of being heard, decide
the case ex-parte.
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164. Failure of petitioner to appear.—Where, at any stage of the trial of an election petition,
the petitioner fails to make appearance, the Election Tribunal may dismiss the petition for default, and
make such order as to costs as it may think fit.
165. Additional powers of Election Tribunal.—(1) If an Election Tribunal, on the basis of
any material coming to its knowledge from any source or information laid before it, is of the opinion
that a returned candidate was a defaulter of loan, taxes, government dues and utility expenses, or has
submitted a false or incorrect declaration regarding payment of loans, taxes, government dues and
utility expenses or has submitted a false or incorrect statement of assets and liabilities of his own, his
spouse or his dependents it may, on its own motion or otherwise, call upon such candidate to show
cause why his election should not be declared void and, if it is satisfied that such candidate is a defaulter
or has submitted false or incorrect declaration or statement, as aforesaid, it may, without prejudice to
any order that may be, or has been made on an election petition, or any other punishment, penalty or
liability which such candidate may have incurred under this Act or under any other law for the time
being in force, make an order—
(a) declaring the election of the returned candidate to be void; and
(b) declaring any other contesting candidate to have been duly elected if any of the conditions
specified in section 157 are proved to the satisfaction of the Election Tribunal.
(2) No order shall be made under sub-section (1) unless the returned candidate has been
provided an opportunity of being heard.
166. Order as to costs.—(1) The Election Tribunal may, while making an order under section
154, also make an order determining the costs and specifying the persons by and to whom such costs
are to be paid.
(2) If in any order as to costs under sub-section (1), there is a direction for the payment of
costs by any party to any person, such costs shall, if they have not already been paid, be payable in full
and shall, upon application in writing in that behalf made to the Election Tribunal within ninety days
of the order by the person to whom costs have been awarded, be paid, as far as possible, out of the
security for costs deposited by such party.
(3) Where no costs have been awarded against a party who has deposited security for costs,
or where no application for payment of costs has been made within ninety days or where a residue
remains after costs have been paid out of the security, the Election Tribunal shall, on application of the
person who made the deposit of security or by his legal representative, return the security or the residue
of the security to the person making the application.
(4) If no application for refund of security or residue of the security is made after the expiry
of ninety days of the final decision, such security or, as the case may be, residue of the security shall
stand forfeited in favour of the Government.
(5) If the order for payment of costs remains unsatisfied, the person to whom costs have been
awarded by the Election Tribunal may file an application in the principal civil court of original
jurisdiction of the district in which the person from whom the costs are to be recovered resides or owns
property, or of the district in which the constituency, or any part of the constituency, or of a Province
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in case of election to the Senate, as the case may be, to which the disputed election relates is situated
for recovery of the costs and the court shall execute an order for costs as if such order were a decree
passed by that court.
CHAPTER X
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
167. Corrupt practice.—A person is guilty of the offence of corrupt practice if he—
(a) is guilty of bribery, personation, exercising undue influence, capturing of
polling station or polling booth, tampering with papers, and making or
publishing a false statement or declaration;
(b) calls upon or persuades any person to vote, or to refrain from voting, for any
candidate on the ground that he belongs to a particular religion, province,
community, race, caste, bradari, sect or tribe 1[or is of a particular gender or is
a transgender person];
(c) causes or attempts to cause any person present and waiting to vote at the polling
station to depart without voting; or
(d) contravenes the provisions of section 132.
168. Bribery.—A person is guilty of bribery, if he, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any
other person on his behalf—
(1) receives or agrees to receive or contracts for any gratification for voting or refraining from
voting, or for being or refraining from being a candidate at, or for withdrawing or retiring from an
election;
(2) gives, offers or promises any gratification to any person—
(a) for the purpose of inducing—
(i) a person to be, or to refrain from being, a candidate at an election;
(ii) a voter to vote, or refrain from voting, at an election; or
(iii) a candidate to withdraw or retire from an election; or
(b) for the purpose of rewarding—
(i) a person for having been, or for having refrained from being, a candidate
at an election;
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Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 40.
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(ii) a voter for having voted or refrained from voting at an election; or
(iii) a candidate for having withdrawn or retired from an election.
Explanation.—In this section, ‘gratification’ includes a gratification in money or estimable in
money and all forms of entertainment or employment.
169. Personation.—A person is guilty of personation, if he votes or applies for a ballot paper
for voting, as some other person whether that other person is living or dead or fictitious.
170. Undue influence.—A person is guilty of exercising undue influence if he—
(a) in order to induce or compel any person to vote or refrain from voting, or to
offer himself as a candidate, or to withdraw his candidature or retire from the
contest, at an election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person
on his behalf—
(i) makes or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint;
(ii) inflicts or threatens to inflict any injury, damage, harm or loss;
(iii) calls down or threatens to call down divine displeasure or the displeasure
or disapprobation of any saint or pir;
(iv) gives or threatens to give any religious sentence;
(v) uses or threatens to use any official influence or governmental
patronage;
(vi) maligns the Armed Forces of Pakistan; or
1
[(vii) prevents any woman or a transgender person from contesting an election
or exercising the right to vote.]
(b) on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having
offered himself as a candidate, or having withdrawn his candidature or having
retired, does any of the acts specified in clause (a).
(c) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf—
(i) uses any place of religious worship, or any place reserved for the
performance of religious rites, for the purpose of canvassing for the
votes or not to vote at an election or for a particular candidate; or
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Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 41.
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(ii) for any of the purposes specified in sub-clause (i) by words, spoken or
written, or by signs or visible representation, publishes anything or does
any act prejudicial to the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or
defence of Pakistan or any part of Pakistan; or
(d) by abduction, duress or any fraudulent device or contrivance—
(i) impedes or prevents the free exercise of the franchise by a voter; or
(ii) compels, induces or prevails upon any voter to vote or refrain from
voting.
Explanation.—In this section, ― “harm” includes social ostracism or excommunication or
expulsion from any caste or community.
171. Capturing a polling station or polling booth.—A person is guilty of capturing a polling
station or polling booth if he—
(a) seizes a polling station or a polling booth or a place fixed for the poll or makes
1
[election officials] surrender the ballot papers or ballot box or both 1[or] does
any other act which affects the orderly conduct of elections;
(b) takes possession of a polling station or a polling booth or a place fixed for the
poll and allows his supporters to exercise their right to vote while preventing
others from free exercise of their right to vote;
(c) coerces, intimidates or threatens, directly or indirectly, any voter and prevents
him from going to the polling station or a place fixed for the poll to cast his
vote; or
(d) being in the service of any Government or corporation or institution controlled
by the Government, commits all or any of the aforesaid activities or aids or
connives in, any such activity in furtherance of the prospects of the election of
a candidate.
172. Tampering with papers.—(1) Except as provided in sub-section (2), a person is guilty
of tampering with papers, if he—
(a) intentionally defaces or destroys any nomination paper, ballot paper or official
mark on a ballot paper; or
(b) intentionally takes out of the polling station any ballot paper or puts into any
ballot box any ballot paper other than the ballot paper he is authorized by law
to put in; or
(c) without due authority—
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Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 42.
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(i) supplies any ballot paper to any person;
(ii) destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with any ballot box or
packet of ballot papers in use for the purpose of election; or
(iii) breaks any seal affixed in accordance with the provisions of this Act; or
(d) forges any ballot paper or official mark; or
(e) causes any delay or interruption in the beginning, conduct or completion of the
procedure required to be immediately carried out on the close of the poll.
(2) An election official on duty in connection with the election who is guilty of the offence
under sub-section (1) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six
months or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both 1[in addition to
such penalty as may be imposed as a result of disciplinary action initiated by the Commission under
section 55].
173. Making or publishing a false statement or declaration.—A person is guilty of making
or publishing a false statement or declaration if he makes or publishes a false statement or submits
false or incorrect declaration in any material particular—
(a) concerning the personal character of a candidate or any of his relations
calculated to adversely affect the election of such candidate or for the purpose
of promoting or procuring the election of another candidate, unless he proves
that he had reasonable grounds for believing and did believe, the statement to
be true; or
(b) relating to the symbol of a candidate whether or not such symbol has been
allocated to such candidate; or
(c) regarding the withdrawal of a candidate; or
(d) in respect of statement of assets and liabilities or any liability with regard to
payment of loans, taxes, government dues and utility expenses.
174. Penalty for corrupt practice.—Any person guilty of the offence of corrupt practice shall
be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may
extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
175. Illegal practice.—A person is guilty of the offence of illegal practice if he—
(a) is guilty of disorderly conduct near a polling station, canvassing in or near a
polling station, interferes with the secrecy of voting, or adversely affects the
interests of a candidate;
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Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 43.
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(b) obtains or procures, or attempts to obtain or procure, the assistance of any
person in the service of Pakistan to further or hinder the election of a candidate;
(c) votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting at an election knowing that he is
not qualified for, or is disqualified from, voting;
(d) votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting more than once in the same polling
station;
(e) votes or applies for a ballot paper for voting in more than one polling station for
the same election;
(f) removes a ballot paper from a polling station during the poll;
(g) violates restrictions on publicity laid down in section 180 or restrictions on
announcement of development schemes under section 181;
(h) violates prohibition on public meetings during a certain period as provided in
section 182;
(i) fails to comply with section 134 relating to election expenses;
(j) carries or displays any kind of weapon or fire arm in a public meeting or
procession during campaign period, on the poll day and till twenty four hours
after the announcement of the official results by the Returning Officer;
(k) resorts to aerial firing or uses firecrackers and other explosives at public
meetings or in or near a polling station; or
(l) resorts to violence in any form or manner against an election official or any
other person officially deputed to work at a polling station.
Explanation.—The word ― “weapon” used in clause (j) includes a danda, lathi, knife, axe or
any other thing which can be used as a weapon to inflict injury to a person.
176. Disorderly conduct near polling station.—A person is guilty of disorderly conduct near
a polling station if he, on the polling day—
(a) uses, in such manner as to be audible within the polling station, any
gramophone, megaphone, loudspeaker or other apparatus for reproducing or
amplifying sounds;
(b) persistently shouts in such manner as to be audible within the polling station;
(c) does any act which—
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(i) disturbs or causes annoyance to any voter visiting a polling station for
the purpose of voting; or
(ii) interferes with the performance of the duty of an election official or any
person on duty at a polling station; or
(d) abets the doing of any of these acts.
177. Canvassing in or near the polling station.—A person is guilty of canvassing in or near
a polling station if he, on the polling day—
(a) within a radius of four hundred meters¬ of a polling station—
(i) canvasses for votes;
(ii) solicits the vote of any voter;
(iii) persuades any voter not to vote at the election or for a particular
candidate; or
(b) exhibits, except with the permission of the Returning Officer and at a place
reserved for the candidate or his election agent beyond the radius of one hundred
meters of the polling station, any notice, sign or flag designed to encourage the
voters to vote or discourage the voters from voting, for any contesting candidate.
178. Interference with the secrecy of voting.—A person is guilty of interference with the
secrecy of voting if he—
(a) interferes or attempts to interfere with a voter when he records his vote;
(b) in any manner obtains or attempts to obtain in a polling station information as
to the candidate or candidates for whom a voter is about to vote or mark his
preferences in case of election to the Senate or has voted or, as the case may be,
marked his preferences;
(c) communicates at any time any information obtained in a polling station as to the
candidate or candidates for whom a voter is about to vote or mark his
preferences or has voted or marked his preferences;
(d) takes or attempts to take a photograph of the marked ballot paper by using cell
phone camera or any other device to interfere with the secrecy of vote; or
(e) in any other manner discloses the secrecy of the vote.
179. Adversely affecting the interests of candidate.—A person is guilty of adversely
affecting the interests of any person as a candidate if he, as a proposer or seconder, or in a fictitious
name as a proposer or seconder, wilfully does any act which he is prohibited by law from doing, or
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omits to do any act which he is required by law to do, or makes any entry in a Form which is not
correct, or subscribes to a Form a signature which is not genuine.
180. Regulation of publicity.—(1) No political party shall run a publicity campaign in print
and electronic media at the cost of public exchequer.
(2) The Commission shall determine the size of posters, handbills and pamphlets, which the
candidates or political parties may use for canvassing for an election.
(3) No person or a political party shall—
(a) affix or distribute posters, handbills, pamphlets, banners or portraits larger than
the sizes prescribed by the Commission;
(b) print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any poster, handbill or
pamphlet which does not bear on its face the names and addresses of the printer
and the publisher;
(c) affix hoardings or panaflexes of any size;
(d) hoist party flag at any public building or any other public property;
(e) do wall chalking for the purpose of canvassing for an election; and
(f) use loudspeaker for canvassing except at election meetings.
(4) No person shall remove or deface the posters affixed by a candidate or political party or
prevent workers of a candidate or political party from distribution of handbills and leaflets.
(5) The regulatory authority dealing with print or electronic media shall comply with the
direction of the Commission to submit a report in respect of the publicity campaign by a political party
or a candidate.
181. Prohibition of announcement of development schemes.—No Government functionary
or elected representative including a local government functionary or elected representative, shall
announce any development scheme for a constituency after the announcement of the Election
Programme of that constituency.
182. Prohibition of public meetings during certain period.—No person shall convene, hold
or attend any public meeting, or promote or join in any procession, within the area of a constituency
or, in the case of the Senate election, a Province, during a period of forty-eight hours ending at midnight
following the conclusion of the poll for any election in that constituency or Province.
183. Penalty for illegal practice.—A person guilty of the offence of illegal practice shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend
to one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
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184. Violation of official duty in connection with election.—A person appointed to perform
any function in connection with an election is guilty of violation of official duty, if he wilfully or
negligently—
1
(a) [* * * * * * *]
(b) influences a voter as mentioned in section 186; or
(c) fails to discharge any duty entrusted to him under this Act or Rules or any other
law.
185. Failure to maintain secrecy.—An election official or any candidate, election agent or
polling agent or a voter attending a polling station or any person attending at the counting of votes is
guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with
fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both, if he—
(a) fails to maintain secrecy or aids in violating the secrecy of voting;
(b) communicates, except for any purpose authorized by any law to any person
before the poll is closed, any information as to the official marks; or
(c) communicates any information obtained at the counting of votes as to the
candidate or candidates for whom any vote is given or a preference is recorded,
as the case may be, by any particular ballot paper.
186. Officials not to influence voters.—An election official or any other person performing
a duty in connection with an election, or any member of a law enforcement agency, is guilty of breach
of official duty, if he, in the conduct or management of an election or maintenance of order at a polling
station—
(a) persuades any person to give his vote;
(b) dissuades any person from giving his vote;
(c) influences in any manner the voting of any person; or
(d) does any other act calculated to influence the result of the election.
187. Assistance by Government servant.—A person in the service of Pakistan is guilty of
violation of official duty in connection with an election, if he mis-uses his official position in a manner
calculated to influence the results of the election.
188. Penalty for violation of official duty in connection with election.—An election official
or any other person on duty in connection with an election who is guilty of an offence under section
184, section 186 or section 187 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to two years or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
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Omitted by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 44.
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189. Enrollment as voter for more than once.—If a person is enrolled on the electoral roll
for any electoral area more than once or on the electoral rolls for more than one electoral area, the
person or any Registration Officer, who knowingly enrolls a voter for more than once, shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine not exceeding
one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
190. Cognizance and trial.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law but
subject to section 193, an offence under this Chapter shall be tried by the Sessions Judge and any
aggrieved person may, within thirty days of the passing of the final order, file an appeal against the
order in the High Court which shall be heard by a Division Bench of the High Court.
(2) The proceedings against a person for being involved in corrupt or illegal practice may be
initiated on a complaint made by a person or by the Commission but if a complaint made by the person
proves to be false, based on bad faith or is made for any ulterior motive to provide benefit to another
person, the complainant shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six
months or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.
(3) The Commission may direct that the summary trial of an offence under this Act may be
conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XX of the Code.
Explanation.—In this section, ― “Sessions Judge” includes an Additional Sessions Judge.
1[190A. Certain offences cognizable.__ Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code,
offences punishable under sections 174, 176, 177 and 179 shall be cognizable.]
191. Prosecution of offences by public officers.—(1) No court shall take cognizance of the
offence punishable under section 188, 189 or 195, except upon a complaint in writing, made by order
of or under the authority of the Commission.
(2) The Commission shall, if it has reason to believe that any offence specified in sub-section
(1) has been committed, cause an enquiry to be made or prosecution to be instituted against the accused
person, as it may think fit.
(3) An offence specified in sub-section (1) shall be exclusively triable by the Court of Sessions
within the jurisdiction of which the offence is committed.
(4) In respect of an offence specified in sub-section (1), provisions of section 494 of the Code,
shall have effect as if, after the word and comma “may”, therein, the words “if so directed by the
Commission and” were inserted.
192. Certain offences triable by Registration Officer.—Notwithstanding anything
contained in the Code, the Registration Officer, if authorized by the Commission, may—
(a) exercise the powers of a Magistrate of the first class under the said Code in
respect of the offences punishable under sections 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 45.
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179, 180, 182, 186, 187, 188, 189, 191, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,464 or 471 of
the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860); and
(b) take cognizance of any such offence and shall try it summarily under Chapter
XX of the Code.
193. Certain offences triable by authorized officers.—Notwithstanding anything contained
in the Code, an officer exercising the powers of a civil or criminal court, or an officer of the Armed
Forces, or an officer performing a duty in connection with an election, who is authorized by the
Commission in this behalf may—
(a) exercise the powers of a Magistrate of the first class under the Code in respect
of the offences of personation, or capturing of polling station or polling booth
punishable under section 174; and
(b) take cognizance of any such offence under section 190 of the Code; and shall
try it summarily under Chapter XX of the Code.
194. Powers of a Police Officer.—A Police Officer may—
(a) arrest without warrant, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code, any
person who—
(i) commits personation or an offence under section 183 if the Presiding
Officer directs him to arrest such person; or
(ii) while being removed from the polling station by the Presiding Officer,
commits any offence at the polling station;
(b) remove any notice, sign, banner or flag used in contravention of section 177;
and
(c) seize any instrument or apparatus used in contravention of section 176 and take
such steps, including use of force, as may be reasonably necessary for
preventing such contravention.
195. Information not to be divulged.—Any person who—
(a) being an employee of the Commission publishes or communicates to any
person, any information or data acquired by him in the course of such
employment without being authorized by the Commission;
(b) breaches, in any manner, the security or integrity of the information or data
contained in the electoral rolls database;
(c) having possession of any information or data which to his knowledge has been
obtained or disclosed in contravention of this Act or in breach of the security,
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secrecy or integrity thereof, publishes or communicates that information or data
to any other person; or
(d) misuses or abuses, in any manner, the information or data contained in the
electoral rolls database;
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine
which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees or with both.
196. Offences punishable under Pakistan Penal Code.—(1) If any person—
(a) attacks the polling station or polling booth;
(b) causes or attempts to cause any injury to a person or loss of public property at
the polling station;
(c) exhibits or uses weapons or makes aerial firing in or around the polling station;
(d) disturbs the polling proceedings or causes to harass the voters to leave the
polling station without voting;
(e) snatches or attempts to snatch the ballot boxes or ballot papers;
(f) kidnaps or attempts to kidnap the Presiding Officer or polling staff; or
(g) does any other act at the polling station;
punishable under the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), the Presiding Officer shall
report in writing the occurrence to the Returning Officer who shall refer the matter to the Head of
District Police for registration of a case against the alleged offender.
(2) The Head of District Police shall send a copy of the First Information Report to the Court
of competent jurisdiction and shall submit to the Provincial Election Commissioner periodical report
about the progress in investigation of the case.
197. Court to report convictions to the Commission.—(1) A Court convicting any person
for an offence punishable under this Chapter, other than corrupt practice, shall send a report to the
Commission of such conviction together with its recommendations, if any, considering the special
circumstances of any case, for the mitigation or remission of any disqualification incurred by such
person under this Act.
(2) The Commission shall publish the report received under sub-section (1) on its website.
198. Punishment not in derogation of any other liability.—Any punishment imposed on
any person for an offence punishable under this Chapter shall be in addition to, and not in derogation
of, any liability incurred by such person under any other provision of this Act.
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199. Provisions of the Code to apply.—In the matters relating to reporting, investigation,
summons, warrants, enquiry, trial of an offence or other ancillary matters where any provision or any
sufficient provision does not exist in this Act or the Rules, the provisions of the Code shall apply in
the matter.
CHAPTER XI
POLITICAL PARTIES
200. Formation of political parties.—(1) Subject to this Act, it shall be lawful for any body
of individuals or association of citizens to form, organize, continue or set-up a political party.
(2) A political party shall have a distinct identity of its structures at the national, provincial and
local levels, wherever applicable.
(3) Every political party shall have a distinct name.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a political party shall not—
(a) propagate any opinion, or act in a manner prejudicial to the fundamental
principles enshrined in the Constitution;
(b) undermine the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, public order or public
morality or indulge in terrorism;
(c) promote sectarian, regional or provincial hatred or, animosity;
(d) bear a name as a militant group or section or assign appointment titles to its
leaders or office-bearers which connote leadership of armed groups;
(e) impart any military or para-military training to its members or other persons; or
(f) be formed, organized, set-up or convened as a foreign-aided political party.
201. Constitution of political parties.—(1) A political party shall formulate its constitution,
by whatever name called, which shall include—
(a) the aims and objectives of the political party;
(b) organizational structure of the political party at the Federal, Provincial and local
levels, whichever is applicable;
(c) membership fee to be paid by the members, where applicable;
(d) designation and tenure of the office-bearers of the political party;
(e) criteria for receipt and collection of funds for the political party; and
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(f) procedure for—
(i) election of office-bearers;
(ii) powers and functions of office-bearers including financial decision-
making;
(iii) selection or nomination of party candidates for election to public offices
and legislative bodies;
(iv) resolution of disputes between members and political party, including
issues relating to suspension and expulsion of members; and
(v) method and manner of amendments in the constitution of the political
party.
(2) Every political party shall provide a printed copy of its constitution to the Commission.
(3) Any change in the constitution of a political party shall be communicated to the
Commission within fifteen days of incorporation of the change and the Commission shall maintain
updated record of the constitutions of all the political parties.
202. Enlistment of political parties.—(1) A political party formed after the commencement
of this Act shall, within thirty days of its formation, apply to the Commission for enlistment of the
political party.
(2) The application for enlistment shall be accompanied by a copy of the constitution of the
political party, the certificate and the information required to be submitted under section 201 and
section 209, a copy of consolidated statement of its accounts under section 210, a list of at least two
thousand members with their signatures or thumb impressions along with copies of their National
Identity Cards, and proof of deposit of two hundred thousand rupees in favour of the Commission in
the Government Treasury as enlistment fee.
(3) The Commission shall enlist a political party applying for enlistment under sub-section (1)
if the Commission is satisfied that the political party fulfills the requirements specified in sub-section
(2).
(4) A political party enlisted by the Commission before the commencement of this Act shall
be deemed to have been enlisted under this Act provided it has filed with the Commission the
documents mentioned in sub-section (2) and if not, it shall submit the documents within sixty days
from the commencement of the Act.
(5) If an enlisted political party fails to file the documents under sub-section (2) within the
time stipulated under sub-section (4), the Commission shall cancel the enlistment of the political party
after affording an opportunity of being heard to that political party.
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(6) A political party which has been refused enlistment or whose enlistment has been
cancelled under this section may, within thirty days of the refusal or cancellation of enlistment, file an
appeal before the Supreme Court.
(7) Where the Government declares that a political party has been formed or is operating in a
manner prejudicial to the sovereignty, or integrity of Pakistan, it shall within fifteen days of such
declaration refer the matter to the Supreme Court.
203. Membership of political parties.—(1) Every citizen, not being in the service of
Pakistan, shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party or be otherwise associated
with a political party or take part in political activities or be elected as an office-bearer of a political
party.
(2) Where a person joins a political party, his name shall be entered in the record of the
political party as a member and shall be issued a membership card, or any other document showing his
membership of the political party.
(3) A person shall not be a member of more than one political party at a time.
(4) A political party shall encourage women 1[and persons with disabilities and transgender
persons] to become its members.
(5) A member of a political party shall have the right of access to the records of the political
party, other than the record of another member.
204. Membership fee, contributions and donations.—(1) A member of a political party shall
be required to pay a membership fee, if provided in the political party’s constitution and may, in
addition, make contributions or donations towards the political party’s funds.
(2) The fee, contribution or donation made by a member or a supporter of a political party
shall be duly recorded by that political party.
(3) Any contribution or donation made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign source including
any foreign government, multi-national or public or private company, firm, trade or professional
association or individual shall be prohibited.
(4) Any contribution or donation which is prohibited under this Act shall be confiscated in
favour of the Government in such manner as may be prescribed.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this section—
(a) “contribution or donation” includes a contribution or donation made in cash,
kind, stocks, transport, fuel and provision of other such facilities; and
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Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 47.
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(b) “foreign source” shall not include an Overseas Pakistani holding a National
Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis issued by the National Database and
Registration Authority.
205. Suspension or expulsion of a member.—(1) A member of a political party may be
suspended or expelled from the political party’s membership in accordance with the procedure
provided in the constitution of the political party.
(2) Before making an order for suspension or expulsion of a member from the political party,
such member shall be provided with a reasonable opportunity of being heard and of showing cause
against the action proposed.
206. Selection for elective offices.—A political party shall make the selection of candidates
for elective offices, including membership of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and Provincial
Assemblies, through a transparent and democratic procedure and while making the selection of
candidates on general seats shall ensure at least five per cent representation of women candidates.
207. Functioning of a political party.—(1) A political party shall have an elected general
council at the Federal, Provincial and local levels, wherever applicable, and by whatever name it may
be referred.
(2) A political party shall, at least once in a year, convene a general meeting at the Federal,
Provincial and local level of a political party, wherever applicable, and shall invite the members of the
political party or their delegates to participate in the general meeting.
208. Elections within a political party.—(1) The office-bearers of a political party at the
Federal, Provincial and local levels, wherever applicable, shall be elected periodically in accordance
with the constitution of the political party:
Provided that a period, not exceeding five years, shall intervene between any two elections.
(2) A member of a political party shall, subject to the provisions of the constitution of the
political party, be provided with an equal opportunity of contesting election for any political party
office.
(3) All members of the political party at the Federal, Provincial and local levels shall
constitute the electoral-college for election of the party general council at the respective levels.
(4) The political party shall publish the updated list of its central office-bearers and Executive
Committee members, by whatever name called, on its website and send the list, and any subsequent
change in it, to the Commission.
1
[(5) Where a political party fails to conduct intra-party elections as per given time frame in
their constitution, a show cause notice shall be issued to such political party and if the party fails to
comply with, then the Commission shall impose fine which may extend to two hundred thousand
rupees but shall not be less than one hundred thousand rupees.]
1
Added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 48.
Page 99 of 122
209. Certification by the political party.— (1) A political party shall, within seven days from
completion of the intra-party elections, submit a certificate signed by an office-bearer authorized by
the Party Head, to the Commission to the effect that the elections were held in accordance with the
constitution of the political party and this Act to elect the office-bearers at the Federal, Provincial and
local levels, wherever applicable.
(2) The certificate under sub-section (1) shall contain the following information—
(a) the date of the last intra-party elections;
(b) the names, designations and addresses of office-bearers elected at the Federal,
Provincial and local levels, wherever applicable;
(c) the election results; and
(d) copy of the political party’s notifications declaring the results of the election.
(3) The Commission shall, within seven days from the receipt of the certificate of a political
party under sub-section (1), publish the certificate on its website.
210. Information about the sources of funds.—(1) A political party shall, in such manner as
may be prescribed, submit to the Commission within sixty days from the close of a financial year, a
consolidated statement of its accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant on Form D containing—
(a) annual income and expenses;
(b) sources of its funds; and
(c) assets and liabilities.
(2) The statement under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by the report of a Chartered
Accountant with regard to the audit of accounts of the political party and a certificate signed by an
office-bearer authorized by the Party Head stating that—
(a) no funds from any source prohibited under this Act were received by the
political party; and
(b) the statement contains an accurate financial position of the political party.
211. Campaign finance.—(1) A political party shall furnish to the Commission the list of
contributors who have donated or contributed an amount equal to or more than 1[one million] rupees
to the political party for its election campaign expenses.
(2) A political party shall furnish to the Commission details of the election expenses incurred
by it during a general election 1[, bye-election and Senate election].
1
Subs. and ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 49.
Page 100 of 122
212. Dissolution of a political party.—(1) Where the Federal Government is satisfied on the
basis of a reference from the Commission or information received from any other source that a political
party is a foreign-aided political party or has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the
sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is indulging in terrorism, the Government shall, by a notification
in the official Gazette, make such declaration.
(2) Within fifteen days of making a declaration under sub-section (1), the Government shall
refer the matter to the Supreme Court.
(3) Where the Supreme Court upholds the declaration made against the political party under
sub-section (1), such political party shall stand dissolved forthwith.
Explanation.—In this section, ‘foreign-aided political party’ means a political party which—
(a) has been formed or organized at the instance of any foreign government or
political party of a foreign country; or
(b) is affiliated to or associated with any foreign government or political party of a
foreign country; or
(c) receives any aid, financial or otherwise, from any foreign government or
political party of a foreign country, or any portion of its funds from foreign
nationals.
213. Effects of dissolution of political party.—(1) Where a political party is dissolved under
section 212, any member of such political party, if he is a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament),
a Provincial Assembly or a local government, shall be disqualified for the remaining term to be a
member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), Provincial Assembly or local government.
(2) The Commission shall, by notification in the official Gazette, publish the names of the
members of a political party becoming disqualified from being members of Majlis-e-Shoora
(Parliament), Provincial Assembly or local government on the dissolution of the political party under
section 212.
CHAPTER XII
ALLOCATION OF SYMBOLS
214. List of election symbols.—The Commission shall prescribe a list of election symbols for
allocation to political parties and candidates and the symbols in the list shall be visibly and perceptually
different from each other.
215. Eligibility of party to obtain election symbol.—(1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in any other law, a political party enlisted under this Act shall be eligible to obtain an election
symbol for contesting elections for Majlis-eShoora (Parliament), Provincial Assemblies or local
government on submission of certificates and statements referred to in sections 202, 206, 209 and 210.
Page 101 of 122
(2) A combination of enlisted political parties shall be entitled to obtain one election symbol
for an election only if each party constituting such combination submits the certificates and statements
referred to in sections 202, 206, 209 and 210.
(3) An election symbol already allocated to a political party shall not be allocated to any other
political party or combination of political parties.
(4) Where a political party or combination of political parties, severally or collectively, fails to
comply with the provision of section 209 or section 210, the Commission shall issue to such political
party or parties a notice to show cause as to why it or they may not be declared ineligible to obtain an
election symbol.
(5) If a political party or parties to whom show cause notice has been issued under sub-section
(4) fails to comply with the provision of section 209 or section 210, the Commission may after
affording it or them an opportunity of being heard, declare it or them ineligible to obtain an election
symbol for election to Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), Provincial Assembly or a local government, and
the Commission shall not allocate an election symbol to such political party or combination of political
parties in subsequent elections.
216. Application for allocation of symbol.—Subject to fulfilment of the provisions of this
Chapter and the Rules, a political party shall make an application to the Commission for allocation of
a symbol of its choice for each general election within the period specified by the Commission in its
press release, and the application shall contain—
(a) the list of symbols applied for in order of preference;
(b) symbol or symbols if any allocated to the political party during the previous
general elections;
(c) every such application shall be signed by the Party Head, by whatever name
designated;
(d) address of the head office of the political party; and
(e) such other particulars or information from the political party as may be
prescribed.
217. Allocation of symbols.—(1) The Commission shall allocate a symbol to a political party
if the political party complies with the provisions of this Act.
(2) A candidate nominated by a political party for an election in any constituency shall be
allotted the symbol allocated to that political party by the Returning Officer.
(3) A symbol allocated to a political party by the Commission shall not be allotted to any
candidate in a constituency other than the candidate nominated by that political party.
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(4) Subject to the direction of the Commission, in a bye-election, the Returning Officer shall
allot to a candidate nominated by a political party the symbol allocated to that political party in the
previous general election.
(5) In every constituency where an election is contested, the Returning Officer shall allot
visibly different and distinct symbols to each contesting candidate.
Explanation.—In this section, the expression ‘political party’ includes a combination of
political parties who have agreed to put up joint candidates.
218. Symbol disputed by a political party.—(1) If a political party fulfils the requirement of
sections 208, 209 and 210 and a symbol is allocated to it by the Commission, the Returning Officer
shall allocate such symbol to the candidate nominated by that political party.
(2) A political party shall have the right to claim the allocation of the same symbol as allocated
to it in any previous election.
(3) A political party shall also be given preference for allocation of a particular symbol if such
symbol was allocated to it in a previous election before entering into an alliance with other political
parties.
(4) In case the same symbol was allocated to a combination of political parties at the last
election and two or more component political parties apply for the same symbol for the next election,
the allocation of that symbol to any one political party shall be decided by drawing of lots.
CHAPTER XIII
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
219. Commission to conduct elections.—(1) The Commission shall conduct elections to the
local governments under the applicable local government law, and the Rules framed thereunder, as
may be applicable to a Province, cantonments 1[or Islamabad Capital Territory].
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the voting procedure for direct
elections to the local governments in a Province, cantonments, 1[or Islamabad Capital Territory] shall
be the same as provided for election to the Assemblies under this Act.
(3) Subject to sub-section (4), the Commission shall, in consultation with the Federal or
Provincial Government, make an announcement of the date or dates on which the elections to a local
government shall be conducted in a Province, cantonment, Islamabad Capital Territory 1[* * *] or a
part thereof.
(4) The Commission shall hold elections to the local governments within one hundred and
twenty days of the expiry of the term of the local governments of a Province, cantonment 1[or
Islamabad Capital Territory].
1
Subs. and omitted by Act No, XLIV of 2023, s. 50.
Page 103 of 122
(5) The Commission shall organize and conduct elections under this Chapter and shall make
such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the elections are conducted honestly, justly, fairly
and in accordance with law and that the corrupt practices are guarded against.
(6) The Commission may, by order in the official Gazette, make provisions for the conduct of
local government elections if no provision or insufficient provision has been made under this Act or
the Rules.
220. Electoral rolls.—(1) The electoral rolls prepared, updated and maintained under this Act
shall be used for conduct of an election to a local government.
(2) The Commission shall provide the Returning Officer for a local government with copies
of electoral rolls for all the electoral areas within the constituency of such local government.
(3) The Returning Officer shall provide the electoral rolls, containing the names of the voters
entitled to vote at a polling station, to the Presiding Officer of each such polling station.
221. Delimitation of local government constituencies.—(1) For the purpose of holding
elections to the local governments, the Commission shall delimit constituencies of the local
governments, including union councils, wards in a union council, a ward in a district council or ward
in a municipal committee, as far as possible and subject to necessary modifications, in accordance with
Chapter III of this Act and the Rules.
Explanation.—A union council includes a union committee, a village council or, as the case
may be, a neighborhood council.
(2) For the purpose of delimitation of a union council—
(a) the area of a union council shall be a territorial unity;
(b) the boundaries of a union council shall not cross the limits of the local council
of which the union council, being delimited, forms part; and
(c) the population of union councils within a local government shall, as far as
possible, be uniform.
(3) The Commission shall delimit a local government, if required, into as many wards as may
be notified for the election of members on general seats by the concerned government.
(4) For the purpose of delimitation of a ward of a union council—
(a) a ward shall consist of a village, one or more adjoining villages or, in case of an
urban area, a census block or adjoining census blocks;
(b) the boundaries of a ward shall not cross the limits of the union council; and
Page 104 of 122
(c) the population of wards within a union council shall, as far as possible, be
uniform.
(5) The Commission shall delimit a municipal committee into such number of wards as
notified by the concerned government for election of Members of the municipal committee on general
seats.
(6) For the purpose of delimitation of a municipal committee—
(a) a ward shall consist of a census block or adjoining census blocks;
(b) the boundaries of a ward shall not cross the limits of the municipal committee;
and
(c) the population of wards within a municipal committee shall, as far as possible,
be uniform.
(7) The Commission shall delimit a tehsil council, where required, into as many wards as may
be notified by the concerned government for the election on general seats to the tehsil council and
district council.
(8) For the purpose of delimitation of a ward in a tehsil council—
(a) the area of a ward shall be a territorial unity;
(b) the boundaries of a ward shall not cross the limits of the tehsil council of which
the ward, being delimited, forms part; and
(c) the population of the ward within the tehsil council shall, as far as possible, be
uniform.
(9) The Commission shall delimit a local government, if required, into as many
constituencies as may be provided under the applicable local government law for the election of
Members on general seats of the local government.
222. Appointment of Delimitation Committee.—(1) The Commission shall appoint a
Delimitation Committee for each district for delimitation of constituencies of the local governments in
the district, including union councils, wards within a union council, or wards in municipal committees.
(2) Revenue or other executive officers posted in the district shall provide necessary assistance
to the Delimitation Committee in carrying out delimitation of constituencies of the local governments
in the district.
223. Appointment of Delimitation Authority.—(1) The Commission shall appoint from
amongst its own officers or from the officers of the subordinate judiciary a Delimitation Authority for
each district to hear and decide the objections against the delimitation carried out by the Delimitation
Committee.
Page 105 of 122
(2) An officer of the subordinate judiciary shall be appointed as Delimitation Authority in
consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
(3) A voter may, within fifteen days of the delimitation of constituencies by the Delimitation
Committee, file objections against the delimitation before the Delimitation Authority which shall
decide the objections within thirty days from the date of delimitation of constituencies by the
Delimitation Committee.
224. Election officials and polling stations.—The provisions of Chapter V of this Act relating
to appointment of election officials and for the preparation of list of polling stations for an election to
Assemblies shall, as nearly as possible subject to necessary modifications, apply to the appointment of
election officials and for the preparation of the list of the polling stations for an election to a local
government.
225. Appeal against scrutiny order.—(1) A candidate or the objector may, within the time
specified by the Commission, file an appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer rejecting or
accepting a nomination paper to an Appellate Tribunal constituted for the constituency consisting of a
person who is a District and Sessions Judge or an Additional District and Sessions Judge appointed by
the Commission in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
(2) An Appellate Tribunal shall summarily decide an appeal filed under sub-section (1) within
such time as may be notified by the Commission and any order passed on the appeal shall be final.
(3) If the Appellate Tribunal is not able to decide the appeal within the time fixed by the
Commission under sub-section (2), the appeal shall abate and decision of the Returning Officer shall
be final.
226. Election against reserved seats.—(1) Subject to the Rules, the Commission shall
organize and conduct the election to the seats reserved for women, peasants or workers, technocrats,
youth and non-Muslims in a local government under the applicable local government law.
(2) A contesting candidate or candidates obtaining the highest number of votes in a category
shall be declared as elected against the seat or seats specified for that category.
(3) The Commission shall provide to the Returning Officer a list of elected Members eligible
to vote and constituting an electoral college for the election of the indirectly elected Members of a
local government under the applicable local government law.
227. Notification of election and a vacancy.—(1) The Commission shall notify every
election or a vacancy occurred due to death, resignation, disqualification, and removal of a Member of
a local government and publish the same in the official Gazette.
(2) Any Government, under whom a vacancy of a Member of a local government occurs due
to any cause, shall immediately inform the Commission about occurrence of the vacancy.
Page 106 of 122
Explanation.—For purposes of this section, the elected Member also includes Chairman, Vice-
Chairman, Mayor, Deputy Mayor or, as the case may be, Nazim or Naib Nazim of a local government.
228. Bye-elections.—When the seat of a Member of a local government becomes vacant and
bye-election is required to fill the seat under the applicable local government law, the Commission
shall, by notification in the official Gazette, call upon the constituency or electoral college to elect a
person to fill the seat on such date as may be specified in the notification and the provisions of this
Act, the Rules and applicable local government law shall apply to the election to fill such seat.
229. Application of provisions to local government election.—(1) Subject to this Chapter
and the Rules relating to conduct of local government elections, election disputes, election offences
and allocation of symbols, the provisions of Chapter V, Chapter IX, Chapter X and Chapter XII of this
Act, as nearly as possible, shall apply to the conduct of local government election.
(2) The qualifications and disqualification of a candidate in a local government election or a
Member of a local government shall be decided under the applicable local government law.
CHAPTER XIV
CARETAKER GOVERNMENT
230. Functions of caretaker Government.—(1) A caretaker Government shall—
(a) perform its functions to attend to day-to-day matters which are necessary to run
the affairs of the Government;
(b) assist the Commission to hold elections in accordance with law;
(c) restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non-controversial and urgent, in
the public interest and reversible by the future Government elected after the
elections; and
(d) be impartial to every person and political party.
(2) The caretaker Government shall not—
(a) take major policy decisions except on urgent matters;
(b) take any decision or make a policy that may have effect or pre-empt the exercise
of authority by the future elected Government;
(c) enter into major contract or undertaking if it is detrimental to public interest;
(d) enter into major international negotiation with any foreign country or
international agency or sign or ratify any international binding instrument
except in an exceptional case;
Page 107 of 122
(e) make promotions or major appointments of public officials but may make
acting or short term appointments in public interest;
(f) transfer public officials unless it is considered expedient and after approval of
the Commission; and
(g) attempt to influence the elections or do or cause to be done anything which may,
in any manner, influence or adversely affect the free and fair elections 1[:]
1
[Provided that sub-sections (1) and (2) shall not apply where the caretaker Government has to
take actions or decisions regarding existing bilateral or multilateral agreements or the projects already
initiated under the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017 (VIII of 2017), the Inter-
Governmental Commercial Transactions Act, 2022 (XXX of 2022) and the Privatization Commission
Ordinance, 2000 (LII of 2000).]
(3) The Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a Minister or any other members of a Caretaker
Governments shall, within three days from the date of assumption of office, submit to the Commission
a statement of assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities of his spouse and dependent children
as on the preceding 30th day of June on Form B and the Commission shall publish the statement of
assets and liabilities in the official Gazette.
(4) In this section, ‘caretaker Government’ means the caretaker Federal Government or a
caretaker Provincial Government.
CHAPTER XV
MISCELLANEOUS
231. Qualifications and disqualifications.—The qualifications and disqualifications for a person
to be elected or chosen or to remain a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) or a Provincial
Assembly shall be such as are provided in Articles 62 and 63 1[:]
1
[Provided that nomination on honorary basis or being a member of any board of any statutory
body or any entity that is owned or controlled by the Government or in which the Government
has a controlling share or interest or authority, by whatsoever name called, shall not be a
disqualification from being a candidate of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), a Provincial Assembly
or a local government, as the case may be, under Articles 62 and 63, the State-Owned Enterprises
(Governance and Operation) Act, 2023 (VII of 2023), the Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017) or any
other applicable law or rules made thereunder:
Provided further that payment of remuneration for any business including meeting fee and other
perquisites on honorary basis to him being a member shall not tantamount to disqualification from
being a candidate.]
2
[232 3[Disqualification on account of declaration by court.—](1) The qualification and
disqualifications of a person to be elected, chosen or to remain as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora
(Parliament) or a Provincial Assembly shall be such as provided for in Articles 62 and 63 of the
Constitution:
1
Subs. and added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, ss. 51-52.
2
Subs. by Act No. XXXV of 2023, s.4, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) of section 1 of the said Act, always be deemed to have been
so substituted on and from commencement of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 (X of 2010).
3
Subs. by Act No. XX of 2024, s. 2.
Page 108 of 122
Provided that the procedure, manner and duration of the qualifications and disqualifications under
this section shall be such as specifically provided for in the relevant provisions of Articles 62 and 63 of the
Constitution and where no such procedure, manner or duration has been provided for therein, the provisions
of this Act shall apply.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, any other law for the
time being in force and judgment, order or decree of any court, including the Supreme Court and a High
Court, the disqualification of a person to be elected, chosen or to remain as a member of the Majlis-e-
Shoora (Parliament) or a Provincial Assembly under paragraph (f) of clause (l) of Article 62 of the
Constitution shall be for a period not exceeding five years from the declaration by the court of law in that
regard and such declaration shall be subject to the due process of law.]
233. Code of Conduct.— (1) The Commission shall, in consultation with political parties, frame
a Code of Conduct for political parties, contesting candidates, election agents and polling agents.
(2) The Commission shall also frame a Code of Conduct for security personnel, media and
election observers.
(3) A political party, a candidate, an election agent, a polling agent, security personnel, media and
an observer shall follow the Code of Conduct during an election.
(4) The Commission shall publish a Code of Conduct framed under this section in the official
Gazette and on its website 1[and no change shall be made except in the manner provided in sub-section
(1)].
234. Monitoring of election campaign.—(1) The Commission shall constitute a monitoring team
consisting of such number of persons as may be determined by it, to monitor election campaign of the
candidates and political parties and report, on regular basis in the prescribed manner, to an officer
nominated by the Commission in respect of each district for the purpose of deciding the complaints
regarding any violation by a candidate or a political party of any provision of the Act, Rules or the Code
of Conduct issued by the Commission.
(2) The Commission shall constitute a monitoring team for a constituency or a group of
constituencies and determine the terms of reference of the monitoring team.
(3) If the officer, nominated under sub-section (1) receives a report of any violation of the Act or
the Rules and, after holding a summary enquiry, finds that the reported violation has been committed and
no other punishment is provided under the Act for such violation, he may impose a fine not exceeding fifty
thousand rupees.
(4) If the nominated officer after summary enquiry finds a candidate or a political party guilty
of violation of the Act or the Rules for the second time, he shall refer the matter to the Commission
for initiation of proceedings against such candidate or political party under the law, including
proceedings for disqualification of the said candidate and in case of the political party, its candidate.
(5) Any person aggrieved from an order of nominated officer under this section may, within
three days from the order, file an appeal before the Commission and the order of the Commission on
the appeal shall be final.
1
Ins. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 53.
Page 109 of 122
(6) In an election, the Commission may issue any direction to the authority dealing with
matters relating to print or electronic media and such authority shall comply with the direction.
235. Absence of candidates not to invalidate acts.—Where any act or thing is required or
authorized by this Act to be done in the presence of the candidate, an election agent or a polling agent,
the failure of such person to attend at the time and place fixed for the purpose shall not invalidate any
act or thing otherwise validly done.
236. Jurisdiction of courts barred.—(1) No court shall question the legality of any action
taken in good faith by or under the authority of the Commission, the Commissioner or an election
official or any decision given by any of them or any other officer or authority appointed under this Act
or the Rules.
(2) No court shall question the validity of the electoral rolls prepared or revised under this
Act or the legality or propriety of any proceedings or action taken by or under the authority of the
Commission or a Registration Officer.
(3) The validity of the delimitation of any constituency or of any proceedings taken or
anything done by or under the authority of the Commission, under this Act shall not be called in
question in any court.
237. Protection of actions taken in good faith.—No suit, prosecution or other legal
proceeding shall lie against the Commission, the Commissioner or an election official or other person
in respect of anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done under or in pursuance of this
Act or of any rule or order made or any direction given under the law.
238. Election observers.—(1) The Commission, at its own motion or upon an application
made in this behalf, may allow any domestic or international election observation organization to
observe the process of conduct of election, having an access to polling station, counting of votes and
consolidation of results.
(2) No person shall be allowed to observe the process of conduct of election, if he—
(a) is not accredited as an observer by the Commission or its authorized officer;
(b) is affiliated with any political party;
(c) fails to provide his full particulars and documents, including photographs,
which may be required by the Commission;
(d) has been involved in activities prejudicial to the peace and tranquillity of the
people of a constituency;
(e) fails to provide an authorization from the organization of which he is a member;
and
(f) has not obtained security clearance from the Government.
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(3) Every observer while observing the process of conduct of election shall display
prominently a card of his identification issued to him by the Commission or an officer authorized by
it.
(4) Every observer or, as the case may be, organization may submit a report to the
Commission highlighting the electoral irregularities which were noticed during observation relating
to conduct of election, with recommendations, if any.
239. Power to make rules.—(1) The Commission may, by notification in the official Gazette
and publication on the website of the Commission, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this
Act.
(2) The Commission shall make the Rules under sub-section (1) subject to prior publication
and after hearing and deciding objections or suggestions filed within fifteen days of the publication.
240. Removal of difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the
provisions of this Act, the Commission may, with the approval of the President, make such provision
for the removal of the difficulty as it may deem fit and any such order shall be published on the website
of the Commission.
(2) Every provision made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, may be after it is made, before
each House of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).
241. Repeal.—The following laws are hereby repealed—
(a) the Electoral Rolls Act, 1974 (Act No. XXI of 1974);
(b) the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, 1974 (Act No. XXXIV of 1974);
(c) the Senate (Election) Act, 1975 (Act No. LI of 1975);
(d) the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (Act No. LXXXV of 1976);
(e) the Election Commission Order, 2002 (Chief Executive’s Order No.1 of 2002);
(f) the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002 (Chief Executive’s Order No.7
of 2002)1[******] 2[except Articles 1, 7B and 7C];
(g) the Political Parties Order, 2002 (Chief Executive’s Order No.18 of 2002); and
(h) the Allocation of Symbols Order, 2002.
1
Omitted by Act No. XXXVII of 2017, s. 3.
2
Ins. by Act No. XXXV of 2017, s. 2.
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FORM A
[See sections 60(2) &110(2)] Passport size
Photograph of the
NOMINATION FORM FOR ELECTION TO AN candidate
ASSEMBLY/SENATE
[Note: (1) Please fill in this page in capital letters.
(2) Strike off the words not applicable.]
No. and Name of constituency .........................................National Assembly/ Senate/
Provincial Assembly of .........................................................(Name of the Province)
(To be filled in by the proposer of a candidate for an Assembly seat)
(1) I................................. (name of the proposer) having National Identity Card No.
- -
Registered as a voter at serial number........................... in the electoral roll of electoral area
.....................................................of Tehsil/Taluka ...................................District/Agency
................................................................................ do hereby propose the name of
Mr./Mrs./Ms.................................................................................................. whose address
is.........................................................................................as a candidate for election to the seat
from constituency No...............................
(2) I hereby certify that I have not sub scribed to any other nomination paper in this election
either as proposer or seconder.
Date......................... Signature of Proposer……………
——————————————————————————————
(To be filled in by the seconder of a candidate for an Assembly seat)
(1) I.............................................. (name of the seconder) having National Identity Card
No.
- -
Registered as a voter at serial number...........................in the electoral roll of electoral
area......................................................................................... of Tehsil/Taluka..................
District/Agency................................................................... do hereby second the name of
Mr./Mrs./Ms................................................................................................... whose address
is................................................................................................................... as a candidate for
election to the seat from constituency No……………………….
(2) I hereby certify that I have not subscribed to any other nomination paper in this election
either as proposer or seconder.
Date........................ Signature of Seconder ……………….
Page 112 of 122
FOR SENATE ELECTION ONLY
[Note: (1) Please fill in this page in capital letters.
(2) Strike off the words not applicable.]
(To be filled in by the proposer of a candidate for a Senate seat)
(1) I............................. ........................................... -------------
(Name of proposer)
a member of *National Assembly/Provincial Assembly from Constituency
No.......................................
do hereby propose the name of Mr./Mrs./Ms ..........................................................................................
(Name of candidate)
son/ wife/ daughter of.....................................................................................
resident of .......................………………………………………………..…………..…………..……
(Address)
whose name is entered at serial No…................... in the electoral roll of…………..……..
(name of electoral area, tehsil/ taluka and district)
as a candidate for election from.................................................Province/ Federal Capital 1[**] against
the following Senate seat…………………….………..................................
(2) I hereby certify that I have not subscribed to any other nomination paper in this election either
as proposer or seconder.
Date........................ Signature of Proposer………………
_________________________________________________________________________
(To be filled in by the seconder of a candidate for a Senate seat)
I …………………………………………………………………………….………………
(Name of seconder)
a member of National Assembly/Provincial Assembly from Constituency No. ……..................... do
hereby second the nomination of the above mentioned candidate against the following Senate seat
…………………………………………………………………………………..……….. ……….. …
(2) I hereby certify that I have not subscribed to any other nomination paper in this election either
as proposer or seconder.
Date........................ Signature of Seconder…………
1
Omitted by Act No. XX of 2024, s. 3.
Page 113 of 122
1
[DECLARATION AND OATH BY THE PERSON NOMINATED]
1
[1. I, the above mentioned candidate, hereby declare on oath that,—
(i) I have consented to the above nomination and that I fulfill the qualifications specified in
Article 62 of the Constitution and I am not subject to any of the dis-qualifications specified in
Article 63 of the Constitution or any other law for the time being in force for being elected as a
member of the Senate/National Assembly/ Provincial Assembly. *
*(ii) I belong to …………………………………….…………and
(Name of the political party)
a certificate from that political party showing that I am a party candidate from the above said
constituency is attached.
OR
I do not belong to any political party.
2. I, the above mentioned candidate, solemnly swear that,—
**(i) I believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace
be upon him), the last of the prophets and that I am not the follower of any one who claims to be a
Prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him), and that I do not recognize such a claimant to be Prophet or a religious reformer, nor
do I belong to the Qadiani group or the Lahori group or call myself an Ahmadi.
(ii) I will be faithful to the declaration made by the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, that Pakistan would be a democratic state based on Islamic principles of social justice.
I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan
and that I will strive to preserve the Islamic Ideology which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan.
2
[3. I, the above-mentioned candidate, declare that I have opened an exclusive Account
No.___________________with_____________________(Name and Branch of Scheduled Bank) .
OR
I will use my existing Account No. ___________with __________ (Name and Branch of
Scheduled Bank for the purpose of Election expenses) (Please enclose statement of the Bank Account).]]
1
[4.] My NIC No. is - -
1
[5.] My Contact No. is ______________________
1
[6.] My Email address is…………………………………..
1
[7.] My statement of assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities of my spouse (s) and
dependent children as on preceding thirtieth day of June on Form B is attached.
Date...................... Signature of the Candidate……….....
1
[*Strike off the words not applicable
**For Muslim candidate only.]
1
Subs., renumbered & ins. by Act, No. XXXV of 2017, by s. 3.
2
Subs. by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 54.
Page 114 of 122
SOLEMN AFFIRMATION
I, ………………...................................... S/o, W/o, D/o ..................................................do hereby
solemnly affirm that all the entries in this Form filled by me are correct and complete to the best of my
knowledge and belief, and nothing has been concealed.
Signature of the Candidate……………………...
ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
RECEIPT
(To be filled in by the Returning Officer)
[Note: Strike off the words not applicable.]
Serial Number of nomination paper....................................... .......... ..
The nomination paper of Mr./Ms/Mrs………………….……..................................a candidate for
election to the seat from……………........................ National Assembly/ Senate/ Provincial Assembly
of the Punjab/ Sindh/Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/Balochistan was delivered to meet my office at................
(hours) on ............... (date)by................. (person)
This nomination paper will be taken up for scrutiny at .......................................…............... (hours)
on.........................(date) at................................................(place)
Date................................... Returning Officer………………
Page 115 of 122
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE ATTACHED BY A CANDIDATE
FOR SENATE TECHNOCRAT SEAT)
[Note: (1) This additional information is to be attached with the Nomination Form by a candidate
for Senate Technocrat seat only.
(2) Each item is to be filled in clearly and completely.
(3) The information should be typed or hand written legibly.
(4) Strike off the words not applicable.]
BIODATA
1. Name ……………………………..........................................................................
2. Father/ Husband‘s name………………………………………………………..…….
3. Date of birth …………………………. 4. Place of birth ……………………..……
5. Marital status: Single / Married / Divorced / Widow (er)
6. Present address: ………………………………………………………............................
7. Present telephone Nos. Mobile………..……… Office ………..…. Home …..….…….
8. Email address: ………………………………………………………………………..
9. Education
Years attended Academic degrees and Main
Name and location of Institution certificates or Diplomas Areas
From To of learning obtained of study
10. Professional experience
A. From ………………………………… to ……………………………………..
(the date since employed)
Title of present post and nature of duties.
Employer (Name and address) and type of business.
_________________________________________
B. From ………………………………… to ……………………………………..
(the date since employed)
Title of present post and nature of duties.
Employer (Name and address) and type of business.
__________________________________________
Page 116 of 122
C. From ………………………………… to ……………………………………..
(the date since employed) (Please use additional sheets if required.)
Title of present post and nature of duties.
Employer (Name and address) and type of business.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Please list your special qualifications and skills
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Please list any significant publications you have written (Publications need not be attached).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. If you have previously held public office (e.g. Minister, Advisor, Senator, Member of
Parliament, Provincial Assembly or a local government) please give details:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Please list your present and past memberships, if any, of political parties and/ or civil society
organizations:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I declare that all the above entries and statements are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge
and belief, and nothing has been concealed.
Date........................... Signature of the Candidate............................
Page 117 of 122
FORM B
[See sections 60, 110 & 137]
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
I, .................................................................. candidate/ Member,*National Assembly/ Senate,
Provincial Assembly, Punjab/ Sindh/ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/ Balochistan from constituency
........................./ from the seats reserved for women/ non-Muslims hereby declare that no immovable
and moveable property, including bonds, shares, certificates, securities, insurance policies and jewelry,
other than specified herein below, is held by me, my spouse(s) and dependent children on 30th day of
June,_________.
ASSETS
ASSET COST OF ASSET REMARKS
1 2 3
1. IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
Open plots, houses, apartments, commercial
buildings, under construction properties,
agricultural property, etc.
(a) Held within Pakistan*
(i) ____________________
(ii) ____________________
(iii) ____________________
(b) Held outside Pakistan*
(i) ___________________
(ii) ____________________
2. MOVABLE ASSETS
(a) Business capital within Pakistan
(i) Name of business
(ii) Capital amount
(b) Business capital outside Pakistan
(i) Name of business
(ii) Capital amount
(c) Assets brought or remitted from
outside Pakistan*
Bank drafts/ Remittances
(i)
Machinery
(ii)
Other
(iii)
(d) Assets brought out of remittance
from abroad*
Page 118 of 122
ASSET COST OF ASSET REMARKS
1 2 3
(e) Investments
(i) Stock and Shares
(ii) Debentures
(iii) National Investment
(Unit)Trust
(iv) ICP Certificates
(v) National Savings Schemes
-- Defence Savings
Certificate
-- Special Savings
Certificate
-- Regular Income
Certificate
(vi) Unsecured loans
(vii) Mortgages
(viii) Any other
(f) Motor Vehicles*
Make Model Reg. No.
(i) ______ ______ ______
(ii) ______ ______ ______
(g) Jewelry etc.
(i) Weight_______________
(ii) Description___________
(h) Cash and Bank Accounts*
(i) Cash in hand
(ii) Cash at Bank
Account No. Bank & Branch
Current __________ ___________
Deposit __________ __________
Saving __________ ____________
Other Deposit ______ __________
(i) Furniture, Fittings &articles of
personal use–
(j) Assets transferred to any
person–
(i) Without adequate
consideration,
or
(ii) by revocable transfer
(k) Any other assets.
*Details to be annexed.
Page 119 of 122
LIABILITIES
LIABILITY AMOUNT REMARKS
(i) Mortgages secured on Property or land
(ii) Unsecured Loans owing
(iii) Bank Overdraft
(iv) Bank Loans
(v) Amounts due under Hire Purchase
Agreement
(vi) House Building Loans
(vii) Advances from Provident Funds etc.
(viii) Other debts due*
(ix) Liabilities in the names of dependent
children (in respect of assets standing in
their names)
Total
*Details to be annexed.
VERIFICATION
I,...........................................................................................S/o,W/o,D/o..................... do
hereby declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the above statement of the assets and
liabilities of myself, my spouse(s), dependent children is correct and complete as on 30th June………..
and nothing has been concealed therefrom.
Date........................................... Signature of the Candidate/ Member
______________________________
Page 120 of 122
FORM C
[See section 134]
RETURN OF ELECTION EXPENSES
Election to the Senate from__________________ (Province/Areas)/ National Assembly / Provincial
Assembly of the Punjab/ Sindh / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Balochistan
No. and Name of Constituency _______________________________________
Name of the candidate __________________________________________________________
Address of the candidate_________________________________________________________
1
[CNIC number ________________________________________________________________
Name of Bank and Address ________________________________________________________
Account number or IBAN _________________________________________________________]
PART A.—Account of Election Expenses
Date on which Nature of Amount of expenditure
expenditure was expenditure
incurred or The amount paid (i) The amount Total of (i) and (ii)
authorized. outstanding (ii)
(a) (b) (c)
PART B.—Account of unpaid claim/Outstanding amount.
Nature of claim/
outstanding amount. Date of claim/outstanding amount. Amount of claim/outstanding amount
(a) (b) (c)
PART –C: Attach bank statement of the account opened by the candidate showing all
transactions made by the candidate from that account.
Place_______________________
Date_______________________
Signature of the candidate
1
Added by Act No. XLIV of 2023, s. 55.
Page 121 of 122
FORM D
[See section 210]
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF A POLITICAL PARTY
AUDITED BY A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
Name of Political Party______________________________________________
Financial year____________________
Statement of accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant under section 210 of the Elections Act,
2017 is attached, showing inter-alia:
(1) Income/ receipts during the year with source of funds;
(2) Total expenses for the year with details of expenditure; and
(3) Total assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of the financial year.
Name, signature & stamp of Charted Accountant
ICAP’s membership number_________________
It is certified that:
(i) No funds were received by the party from any source prohibited under the Elections
Act 2017.
(ii) The statement of accounts contains an accurate picture of the financial position of the
party.
(iii) The information given above is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
(iv) The above statement is audited by the Charted Accountant and detailed report thereof
is annexed.
Name, Signature and seal on behalf of the party
Date: ____________________________ RGN Date: 08-10-2024
Page 122 of 122
Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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