RESTRICTION ON ELECTION EXPNESES STILL EXISTS IN THE LAW
--------SECRETARY ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
Islamabad, the 22nd November, 2007.—It has appeared in a section of Press that Election Commission has dispensed with the restriction on the election expenses by excluding the same from the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates.
In order to dispel this wrong impression created by the said news, the Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan has drawn attention towards Section 49(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, which provides that election expenses of a contesting candidate shall not exceed 1.5 million (Rs.15 lacs) in case of an election to a seat in the National Assembly and 1.00 million (Rs.10 lacs) in case of an election to a seat in the Provincial Assembly.
The Secretary further informed that Section 50 and Section 42(3A) of the said Act require that a contesting candidate shall submit the return of election expenses within 30 days of the publication of the name of returned candidate, whereas, a returned candidate shall submit his return of election expenses within 10 days from the date of Poll of an election to the Returning Officer in the prescribed Form.