RETURNING OFFICERS MAY NOT REJECT NOMINATION PAPERS OF A CANDIDATE ON GROUND OF ANY DEFECT WHICH IS NOT OF SUBSTANTIAL NATURE
------SECRETARY, ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
Islamabad, the 27th November, 2007.— Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan has stated that several queries are being made by the Returning Officers regarding acceptance/rejection of nomination papers of the candidates. In this connection, it is clarified that the Returning Officers being experienced Judicial Officers may decide the cases in accordance with the relevant provisions of Laws/Rules.
2. The Secretary Election Commission has, however, drawn attention towards the procedure of scrutiny of nomination papers mentioned at Page 32 of the Hand Book for Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers, wherein it has been mentioned as under:
ss “The Returning Officer may not reject a nomination paper on the ground of any defect which is not of a substantial nature and may allow such defects to the remedied. These include errors with regard to name and serial number in the Electoral Rolls.”
3. The Secretary Election Commission has therefore clarified that in case of any minor error in the Electoral Rolls, reliance may be placed on other relevant documents i.e. the entries in the National Identity Cards etc. The Returning Officer may also give opportunity to the candidates to provide any other document to him during the stipulated period of scrutiny.